My name is Esma Hazal, I am a screenwriter and I currently study Philosophy & Moral Sciences at the university. As a philosophy student who reads and naturally has arguments on certain topics, I decided to share my thoughts and reflections on a public blog with you. I believe it would be a waste to keep them in my notes and archives passively.
In this blog, I will focus on the following topics: philosophy, thoughts & reflections, storytelling, atheism, and religion criticism, specifically Islam. I hope you'll enjoy the new insights I hope to give you here. Welcome to Reflect-in!
Ririko is a top model whose life begins to change drastically as she faces the consequences of the artificial beauty she’s achieved through cosmetic surgery. The film explores themes of obsession with perfection and the destructive impact of societal expectations on personal identity. Ririko's internal fall is reflected in her external transformation, which reveals the darker side of the beauty industry and the cost of fame. Helter Skelter dives into complex issues such as self-worth, mental health, and the obsession with physical appearance, making it a visually striking and thought-provoking film. There are two scenes in Helter Skelter that struck me the most. One is set against vivid, almost overwhelming backgrounds that are so colourful and artificial that they blur the line between reality and illusion, like mirroring the way obsession with beauty disconnects us from our true selves. The other is when the dark spots due to her failed cosmetic surgeries begin to appear on Ririko’s face and body. It’s the moment her constructed perfection begins to betray her, and with it, she starts to lose her sense of self completely.
Mika Ninagawa’s bold, vibrant cinematography accentuates the surreal elements of the story, making it visually stunning and emotionally intense.
