"What did you say?! Do you want to throw it all away?"
On the big screen, Francis's mother asked her daughter with a trembling voice, "You have unique conditions, beauty and a bright future. You are a movie star!"
Francis stared at his mother motionless, as if he could see her true face clearly for the first time in his life.
"Mom, you mean to send me back, right?"
Frances, played by Jessica Lange, showed powerful acting skills that seemed to overwhelm everything. Even though it was the second time she watched it, Okada Yukiko could not help but hold her breath and fell in love with the heroine's performance.
Today was Tuesday, and there was no one else in the screening room like her who came to see the movie early in the morning. If it hadn't been decided that everything would end here today, she wouldn't have appeared in the cinema at this time.
"Francis" is a movie released in the United States in 1982. It tells the tragic life of Hollywood star Francis Farmer. On January 17 this year, it was introduced by the art theater and released on RB. Although the theaters are open
It wasn't much, but it received good reviews and has been released to this day.
Three days ago, on April 5th, Okada Yukiko just watched this movie with her friend and fellow idol Minamino Yoko.
That afternoon, Okada Yukiko had a performance at the Shibuya Public Hall. Taking advantage of the break before the rehearsal, she made an appointment to go out with her friends to relax. After lunch, Minamino Yoko suggested going to a movie, so they walked into an art house.
Theater line.
Idols live a busy life every day, Okada Yukiko is busy, and her friend's situation is not much better. Minamino Yoko, who is in the rising stage, has a schedule of work from morning to night every day, and it is rare to take a breather.
Chance.
Because they are busy with work, these girls are obviously in their teens and are at the age of chasing trends, but they are very indifferent to fashion. When a gust of wind blows, by the time they can feel it on their skin, it has already blown away.
"There is a movie I have always wanted to see." Minamino Yoko said to her friends before entering the cinema.
At the beginning of this year, Minamino Yoko saw an introduction to "Francis" in a magazine that introduced foreign movies, and was very interested. However, since this year, she has been busy with work and has been putting off watching it until now.
Francis Farmer, a Hollywood star who became famous at a young age, was unwilling to be manipulated by his boss and unwilling to compromise with life. After a failed struggle, he was sent to a mental hospital for eight years and his pituitary gland was removed.
Died of cancer in 1970.
Before this, Okada Yukiko didn't know who Francis Farmer was, and the movie was a bit dull and boring. She would probably think to herself "It's not over yet" while watching it, but she was very focused while watching it.
Celebrities are pawns in the hands of capital. No matter how glamorous they look, they cannot escape the fate of being manipulated. Yukiko Okada, as a high-profile idol star, probably has a deeper understanding of this than ordinary moviegoers.
The "why" I have been asking myself lately echoes the sad fate of Francis Farmer in the movie.
After the movie ended, Yoko Minamino said with emotion: "Jessica Lange's acting skills are really outstanding. It's a pity that she didn't win an Oscar."
There's nothing we can do about it, as "Frances" was competing against "Sophie's Choice" back then.
"It's terrible." Yukiko Okada said.
Minano Yoko took her friend's hand and asked, "What's so scary?"
"What happened in the movie really happened. It's really scary." Okada Yukiko lowered her eyelids, feeling a heavy sadness in her heart.
That day, after watching the movie, the two girls went to a dessert shop that was said to be very popular recently. When they hurried back to the Shibuya Public Hall, they were already more than ten minutes late.
"Why are you back so late?" The anxious manager saw her and scolded her.
Yukiko Okada lowered her head to apologize, but before she could catch her breath, her manager put his hand on her back and pushed her gently, sending her to the makeup artist and costume artist.
The powder puff was lightly patted on her face, and the gorgeous idol-style clothing was hanging on the hanger, waiting for its owner. Okada Yukiko was at the mercy of the staff, motionless like a puppet.
Today at the Shibuya Public Hall, including temporary workers, there are 150 staff working hard, and they all rely on the "Okada Yukiko" sign.
Okada Yukiko kept asking her "why" in her heart, but no one could answer her.
The well-dressed Yukiko Okada is young and beautiful. As an idol, her signature is optimism, cheerfulness, and a childish smile. But now, she can't smile at all and looks like a plastic flower without life.
"You can't treat the audience with such a face, you know?" the manager encouraged her.
Okada Yukiko raised her lips, "I know, Mizoguchi-san."
The one who was with her that day was her most trusted manager, Noburo Mizoguchi.
"There were moments in your life that left unpleasant scars in your memory, and what inspired you to pick yourself up, move on, and be here with us tonight?"
Rancis?"
On the big screen, Francis had his pituitary gland removed to remove the "root cause" of the disease, and finally left the mental hospital. When he went to participate in a TV talk show, the cheerful host asked this question.
Last night at 7 o'clock, Okada Yukiko went to attend the premiere of "Rocky 4".
At the premiere, her performance was impeccable, but except for her and her manager Asako Hayakawa, no one knew that Yukiko Okada was playing a big role before going to the venue.
"I don't want to go to the premiere tonight." Yukiko Okada said to Asako Hayakawa when she went out early in the morning.
"How can that be done?" Hayakawa Asako told her with a serious expression, "As a 'star', it is very dangerous to have such unprofessional thoughts."
"...I know." The awkward expression on Okada Yukiko's face just now disappeared.
Hayakawa Asako showed a satisfied expression.
After the premiere ceremony, Yukiko Okada followed her manager back to her apartment in Aoyama.
When she was exhausted both physically and mentally, she thought of Toru Minegishi, whom she admired in her heart and took great care of her. Okada Yukiko called Minegishi Toru.
It wasn't until she was about to fall asleep that Toru Minegishi called back. Even though she could barely keep her eyes open, Okada Yukiko still cheered up and said, "Minegishi-san!"
However, on the other end of the phone, Toru Minegishi's reaction was extremely cold and perfunctory. After chatting for a few words, Okada Yukiko couldn't bear the cold atmosphere during the call, held back tears, and asked: "Minegishi-san, what should I do?"
Toru Minegishi smacked his lips impatiently, "Being involved with you is really the most troublesome thing in life. Can you please stop calling me in the future?"
The phone was hung up.
Okada Yukiko put down the receiver and tried to hold back her tears, but the tears flowed out uncontrollably.
On the morning of the 8th, Okada Yukiko started working at nine o'clock.
At eight-thirty, Hayakawa Asako rang Okada Yukiko's doorbell, and without waiting for anyone to answer, opened the door with the key and walked in.
"Yukiko, how are you preparing?" Hayakawa Asako asked in a raised voice as she walked inside.
However, no answer was received.
Hayakawa Asako knocked on the bedroom door, "Aren't you up yet? I'm going in, Yukiko." But when he opened the door, there was no one inside.
Hayakawa Asako stood outside the bathroom and listened again, but there was no movement. After entering, the inside was still very damp, as it had been used not long ago.
Hayakawa Asako was a little panicked. She searched all over the small apartment, but there was no sign of Okada Yukiko. Where had she gone?!
"Frances, I join my friends who are with you right now to wish you all the best in your new endeavors. After this show ends, we will be at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood for you and your friends
Hold a cocktail party..."
After the drinking party, Frances was walking alone on the street late at night. Suddenly, her former lover appeared in front of her.
"How I want you to send me back..."
Francis looked at him, "I really want you to send me back, but"
But she has been destroyed.
Okada Yukiko watched the movie intently. She no longer cared about the job she had escaped, or about everything else. Because she had decided to do something big today.
"If you don't mind, can I go with you for a short walk, okay?"
Francis smiled and nodded, "Okay."
The movie ended. Okada Yukiko looked at the ending subtitles. Her heart was not as scary as the first time she watched the movie, but the sad feeling only increased.
She already knew that the only lover in the movie who brought some warmth to Francis did not actually exist, but was fictionalized in the movie. Francis' fate was even more tragic than in the movie, and even this
There is no trace of tenderness.
Today's work was skipped by her. She finally became a rebel.
If she resists so much, will such a tragic fate await her?
