That is the core of It is not a movie about fame. It is a movie about love. The love of a craft that will never love you back. The love of an icon that feels more real than your own flesh. The love of a mask that has fused to your skin.
Not for viewers who need plot. Essential for anyone who has ever dressed up, gone out, and realized they were invisible. mister lonely -2007-
When the priest’s plane finally crashes (a Korine trademark: anti-climactic violence), it is a release. Herzog’s deadpan narration over the wreckage is the film’s thesis statement: "The sky used to be so full of angels... now it is just full of air." The loss of magic. The death of the romantic gesture. That is the core of It is not a movie about fame
that explores identity, loneliness, and the beauty of delusions. The film is celebrated for its unique blend of melancholy and whimsy, often described as Korine's most accessible and visually poetic work. Core Storylines The love of an icon that feels more real than your own flesh
Why is the qualifier so crucial? Because 2007 was the last year before the iPhone swallowed the world. It was the era of MySpace, pre-curated Instagram feeds, and early YouTube. The anxieties of Mister Lonely —what happens when your identity is a performance for an audience that isn't watching?—were just surfacing.
The narrative follows a young American man living in Paris, played with fragile nuance by Diego Luna. He is not a celebrity; he is a celebrity impersonator. Specifically, he is a Michael Jackson lookalike. We watch him perform on the streets, mimicking the King of Pop’s jerky, mechanical dance moves for spare change and polite, confused applause.