The Definitive Red Thread Invented Trilogy
I love the concept of the red thread. Maybe its delusional to believe that every choice one makes in life, every tug that a heart feels is actually connected to someone else or someplace that they're supposed to reach. I love the myth too. There's apparently an older version of the myth where Ariadne herself has to go into the labyrinth. She takes the red thread as a way to come back out of it. My love life definitely feels like a labyrinth so the belief in the red thread is reassuring. I watched Lost in Starlight on Neflix recently & Nan Young & Jay-ssi's connection reminded me of two other films that I have absolutely loved, truly felt play out in my own life. And so, this here is my
DEFINITIVE RED THREAD INVENTED TRILOGY of films that have the passion, belief & conviction it takes to love your soulmate even if they haven't shown up... yet.
YEP.
If you ever want to feel your feelings so completely that they might transcend the bounds of space & time, this is the trilogy to watch.
The presented order is increasing in regard of intensity, longing, aching. If you'd like to be easy on yourself (which I wouldn't recommend, because why would you?) you could watch them in reverse order. Allow me to elaborate...
LOST IN STARLIGHT...
This one has gorgeous visuals, its set in the future & I love their vision for it. Nan Young is grappling with grief, the trauma of losing her mother while Jay is a little lost within himself, with his music. Nan Young's ambition, the conviction with which she follows her heart, even when it beats to a tragic tune, brings out the best in Jay too. The film is about space travel & love & connection & it is the most realistic film in our trilogy.
YOUR NAME / KIMI NO NA WA
Perhaps my favourite romantic film ever? Your name is magical realism, ancient mysticism, the red thread & myth rolled into one brilliant film - with a body swap trope to top it all off! Your Name makes me believe that my soulmate is still actually out there. That he visits me when I'm really still or in the middle of sleeping and waking. I love the magic of this film & its portrayal of the ache & tragedy that magical love sometimes brings. Sigh.
And on to our third & final film -
MILLENNIUM ACTRESS
THIS FILM WRECKS ME.
EVERY TIME.
It's one that I can never get out of my head - no matter how long ago I last watched it. And I'm always kind of scared to watch it again. Because of what it says about that never-ending ache, the longing & yearning I have felt my whole life. There's a tiny bit of space travel in this one too - not in the way you think - but its a nice little rounding off point for our analogy. Ultimately, this is the best film of the three - not just because of the technical details of the film but also because of what it says -
Maybe the longing, the aching, the yearning is the point. The inching closer, the feeling of almost-maybe, that's the destination. Maybe there isn't an answer but its truly beautiful to seek them, to ask all these heart-wrenching questions. The fact that you lived your life following the tug of the red thread, that's what it led you to... yourself as this seeker of love, of your truth. That you made that the meaning of your life & it is tragic & wonderful all at the same time.