I purchased "Stratosphere Girl" after seeing the trailer, and thinking how strangely beautiful the main actress was. Model/actress Chloe Winkel has an extraordinary look, and it transfers well to the movie screen. She leaves quite an impression in a film that is equally appealing to the eye, on many levels. The bizarre story centers on a young Danish girl with a wonderful talent for drawing comic book style "manga" pictures of everything she sees, and everyone who she encounters while living her bizarre life. Upon the recommendation from her dee-jay boyfriend, Angela flies to Tokyo, and winds up working in a shady "hostess bar" , where attractive white girls mingle with wealthy Japanese men. Once there, Angela finds herself in the middle of a mystery; another girl, from Russia, was living in the flat she now shares with some very bitchy girls. She disappeared without a trace, and Angela becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to the girl. More than a mystery, this seems to be more of a character study, about jealousy and competition among girls. Her co-workers are quite envious of the young, gorgeous Angela, and rightfully so, as they can't hold a candle to this girls translucent, hypnotic beauty. Don't expect to be too entertained with the mystery angle, as somehow the director has made something that should by all rights be fascinating, into something very slow, and just a bit boring. However I am recommending this film, for it does have much to offer. There is some truly inspired camera work; the film is very stylish. There are those wonderful shots of Tokyo, a city that is always fascinating and mysterious; it all possesses this dreamlike quality. If nothing else, see it for the gorgeous Chloe Winkel; I can't say enough about this girl. Her acting abilities aren't particularly strong, but when she is on screen, (at least in my opinion), it didn't really matter what was happening. Director M.X. Oberg pieces together the film with comic strip images, suggesting that the whole movie is basically a comic book come to life. This makes sense, as what is happening on screen is just too weird for real life. Others have complained about the ending, saying it is a letdown. Personally i thought it was very nice, and quite unique: Angela's suspicions about a grisly murder, and a city filled with corrupt, evil people, turn out to be a mere product of her vivid, artists imagination. The ending is sweet, when she finds out that she was wrong, and the men that she suspected of such evil things offer her a job, as a comic book artist, which is what she dreamed of doing. The ending wraps up so perfectly and sweetly, exactly like the comic books that the film actually is. I am happy to have seen this film, and it is good enough for repeat viewings. Apparently there is a longer version, available in Holland I believe, that is 10 minutes longer. I can't help but wonder what is missing from my German DVD, that runs 81 minutes... Anyway, I recommend "Stratosphere Girl" to those who can appreciate beauty over substance.
Review of Stratosphere Girl
