Serial Experiment Lain
DVD
Review
by
: Terry
McCammon
I'm not
crazy, honestly, but I find that I'm now paranoid. What is
reality, what is truth? Do I exist in the world I believe
I do? Why is Descartes in my shower? This all happened because
of a little 4 volume gem called Serial Experiment Lain (Geneon
Video, once called Pioneer). Created by Yoshitoshi Abe, this
is pure treasure. And this pure treasure is being re-released
this January in a signature edition.
Now you're
saying, Terry, this sort of thing isn't new. Look what the
Matrix tried to do (I wont go there) and look at dotHack.
I say, yep, I've seen it before, and I called it Lain. And
nothing since then, not the thousand Matrix clones, not even
dotHack (and I love dotHack) comes close to what 13-year-old
Lain did to my mind.
Subversive,
expansive and imaginative, the story of S.E. Lain is that
of a 13-year-old girl. Starting the narrative with the death
of her classmate, a tragic suicide, we learn of the network,
the wired, and animation that makes your skin crawl. The next
day, Lain receives an email from this dead classmate "I just
abandoned my body… I live here." What is the connection between
the wired and the real world. (But Terry, that sounds like…
I know I know… dotHack… shame it came after Lain)
Lain soon
finds that things are not what they seem, a group called the
Knights comes forward, more suicides, and the appearance of
men in black. But when confronted, Lain is asked "Are you
lain of the wired?" Are her parents really her parents, what
happened to her sister, and if the world you live in is only
a veil you believe in, you think you are in, why not have
the powers of a GOD? (Wait… isn't that the Matrix?)
Now, as
interesting as it sounds, there are vast moments of the unexplained.
The weary viewer must draw conclusions, but these conclusions
are always reaffirmed later. The story, while not fast-paced,
is certainly driving, and presents more issues, sometimes
before resolution of old issues. The ending is noble, personable,
and leaves room for the viewer to question their own decisions
when faced with (reality?) of this nature. I think I would
be mad by this point… perhaps I am.
The animation
itself is experimental, using tricks of light and shadow.
With an incredible soundtrack (Boa, love her… must love her)
that adds to the anime, I still at this time am hard pressed
to find a better title. In fact, it is the stick by which
all my other purchases are measured, and I'm sure my students
are tired of me babbling about this wonderful title (sorry
ladies, I cant help myself).
The DVD
itself has some extras, and each has an Easter egg or two
for those of us who like to hunt. Remember that it is being
released again as a signature edition, definitely worth picking
up. If you like it, check out Haibane Renmei, or some of the
other greats out of Geneon.
Terry is our old-school brother from back in the day. Heed
his words.
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