We Are Little Zombies (2019)

Four teenagers meet at a funeral parlour, having all been orphaned by separate tragedies on the same day. They hang out and wonder about life, form a rock band and briefly become a sensation, then hang out and wonder about life some more.

This is a film I've been not-quite-watching for ages, having heard high praise for it but always bouncing off a plot synopsis that sounded kind of dull. It's the kind of film that a synopsis can't do justice to, where even the most mundane events are delivered with stunning visual creativity, every single shot bringing something new to marvel at.

The closest comparison I can think of visually is Tetsuya Nakashima's The World of Kanako, though WE ARE LITTLE ZOMBIES is nowhere near as thematically dark (which is not to say that there is no darkness in it). It reminded me of Katsuhito Ishii's The Taste Of Tea at times as well, with its whimsical musings and magical excursions, and the visuals brought to mind Mika Ninagawa's Helter Skelter on several occasions. Those are all films I've given five star reviews to, by the way.

Underpinning the eye-popping visual style there is a compelling story that offers a lot to think about, from the perspective of its four young protagonists on their eventful quest for an ordinary, boring life.