lily chou-chou - arabesque | all about lily chou-chou, 2001

The music, the film, this edit - a trance, inviting you into a state of nostalgia.
‘All about lily chou-chou’ isn’t really all about lily chou-chou. It’s really all about a teenage boy and the world around him. at once messy, turbulent, terrible, and idyllic. It creates a haunting portrait of adolescence which I had difficulty appreciating, to be honest. So many troubling themes. Feeling deprived of the wholesome coming-of-age story I thought I was promised. So, I made a smaller edit of all my favourite scenes, keeping this melodic, meditative, youthful, and playful tone that it still had plenty of. A cleansing of sorts. For the nostalgia it could’ve been. I read a review of the film. It said: “[mourns] the despoiling tragedies of pre-adulthood and the infuriating inadequacy of nostalgia.” The inadequacy of nostalgia… huh. That struck me. That’s exactly what the film gave me. And for that, I begrudgingly commend it.
Despite all this, an edit was needed. To soothe me.
‘Arabesque’ is a chilling and elusive track by an equally elusive artist - the non-existent lily chou-chou. Perhaps, this is what the film also (unwittingly?) reinforces through this fictional artist - the elusiveness of nostalgia. A dream. Imaginative. Non-existent.
I took my time with the edit. And at times, the edit took its time with me, lulling me into a state of immovable interest. I would sit for hours editing. Fixating on the littlest of details. hypnotised by the track over and over again. It must’ve put a spell on me. The most calming edit ever. And, with a lot to work with. I fiddled with iMovie. Learnt a few tricks and editing techniques. Indulged in the colour. The rich saturation of summer - deep, bright greens. Handheld cameras as clumsy as the youth it depicts. Atmosphere, silent and soothingly still, in spite of all the spectre of its horror.
I appreciate this edit -- for the creative wealth it gave me. A treasure from somewhere in Japan 2001, for me to use in 2023.
.
shelly,
20 mar 23

[@shellyeditsalot]

i watched 'all about lily chou-chou' a few days ago. it's devastating. but i still found it beautiful. here's an edit that cleanses it from all it's bleakness, until what's left are the sedative memories of boyhood in 2001 japan.

[@lilychouchou-lcc]

istg one of the best movie i've watched in my entire life. The aesthetic , OST and everything was so good. This movie srsly fcked me up

[@Thismylastlyf]

@@lilychouchou-lcc haha

[@nico-miki]

and. now... In 2025, do u still enjoy It like you used to?

[@augustsittig-bell8184]

christ this is so good how does this not have more attention

[@shellyeditsalot]

Ug, thank you SO MUCH ❤

[@whereispepper]

i like how nobody knows about it

[@Thismylastlyf]

the direction of this movie is so amazing that i wonder how was it even posssible to create such a masterpiece that too in 2001. the music used couldn't be more perfect. tsuda's sudden suicide had a great impact in the movie, i was literally shocked to see that scene after watching her enjoy flying the kites in the sky, i didn't notice the pain she is holding inside just like everyone around her. i feel so bad about that, how could people be so so so.......

[@lilychouchou-lcc]

Fr

[@zulfian1069]

I like this song, one of the most beautiful besides Glide and Tobenai Tsubasa.

[@shellyeditsalot]

i literally considered both those songs for the edit. you're so right. they're all somewhat of a holy trinity 😭

[@AlejandraValencia-od2kx]

Such a beautiful edit and the discription... your way with words and ability to capture exactly what i was looking for in the film is beautiful. with imovie too is crazyyyyy! i applaud you and im so happy to have stumbled across your channel and this video

[@shellyeditsalot]

you're too sweet. these words touched me!! never knew folk read the descriptions either 😂 thank you so much ❤❤ i'm happy this little edit means something to you ❤ have a wonderful and safe day 🥹

[@mistahwhite1133]

my goodness i love arabesque so much, GREAT edit

[@wariwarin]

i love it so much

[@basiluh]

magical

[@hardrive000]

it's y favourite movie, i love it so so much

[@kobi7003]

epic!"

[@malice4422]

Perfect

[@buket_5275]

Where did you source your clips from? I'm curious cause I wanna make my own edit too

[@shellyeditsalot]

for these edits, I used the streaming sites called "dramacool" or "kissasian." I'm not too sure if they still work since this edit is 2 years old now, but give it a try!