Synesthesia/"Gimi Hebun" (2005)

Genre: Drama/Murder Mystery
Directed by Toru Matsuura
Written by Yuji Sakamoto
Japanese w. English subtitles

/5

The Deal...

Shoku is a young man afflicted by a rare mental disorder called "synesthesia:" the regions of his brain designated to the five senses function as a single unit, causing him to see colours when he hears sounds, or feel sensations when he views paintings or photographs. He leads a strange and lonely, albeit quiet, life, acting as a professional voyeur with his best friend, Takashi... until one day, a malfunctioning camera leads the friends to a troubled young schoolgirl named Mari, and they find themselves aiding a detective in the investigation of a serial killer that is also believed to be a synethesist...

It is rumored that there occurs, every once in a while, a miracle of medical sorts, in which two synesthesists are born that experience the exact same mixed sensations; in essence, live in the same private world. Shoku may have found his proverbial twin, a person to share his lonely existence with... but it seems that this "twin" comes in a distasteful package: a serial killer that targets his victims via a mysterious computer game in which he appears in the form of a white deer. For better or worse, Shoku's life is about to change forever...



Did Rights:
"Synesthesia" is a visually stunning film. It almost has a comicbook feel: still, iconic scenes and camera angles that are expertly executed and vibrantly coloured. It is extremely artistic, vibrant, and was a joy to watch. It has a soundtrack to match: interesting and captivating music choices that illustrated all tones and moods flawlessly. There was a definite artistic vision behind the execution of this movie.
The movie itself is extremely intelligent. The dialogue is super intriguing and full of colourful word-choices and great analogies. There is a near perfect balance of humour and suspense, and the acting is impressive.
I had known quite a bit about what it meant to have Synesthesia before viewing this film as I had watched a good documentary on the subject a few years prior, and I was very impressed/surprised at how comprehensively and fully this film explained the condition. Kudos to the writing team: this was a very well-written film, and I feel that makes it a rare gem, since many decent films cannot even boast that.

Did Wrongs:
A disclaimer to those that abhor waiting and adore being thrilled: this is a very, very, very slow movie. There are lengthy, sometimes dull conversations, and a lot of character and plot development that is not necessarily exciting in any way. All descriptions about "Synesthesia" that I read proved to be misleading; "Synesthesia" is not a "horror movie." Rather, it is a drama centred around a young synesthesiast that gets mixed up the investigation of an internet serial killer. If you are out looking for a film that will have you on the edge of your seat, then look elsewhere because this film will bore you to death.
I was disappointed that Shoku's disorder was not mentioned more frequently. It would have been ingenious and striking if Matsuura had given the audience a taste of how Shoku saw the world more than once. Unfortunately, it only becomes important very close to the end and is rarely explored.
The plot is very twisty, and despite some of these twists being interesting, it is sometimes hard to follow. The "surprise" ending is extremely confusing. I just barely understand it at all. It is inconclusive, and ultimately a disappointing apex to a rather good film. I wish it would have ended differently, as it had the potential to be a very satisfying movie. Nonetheless, this is a compelling film that explores the meaning of life and death, loyalty, love, and lonliness.