잔혹한 삶을 비관적으로 묘사하면서도 실존에 대한 강렬한 메시지가 담겨 있는, 이와이 슌지의 실험정신이 돋보이는 아이러니한 걸작
2000년 4월 1일, 어느 게시판에서 기묘한 이야기가 시작된다. 이야기의 제목은 [릴리 슈슈의 모든 것]. 지은이, 이와이 슌지. 모두가 기다려온 사이트 오픈 당일, 그곳에는 흔히 소설이라고 여겨지는 형식의 글은 찾아볼 수 없고, ‘릴리 슈슈’라는 가공의 아티스트의 필모그래피와 그녀와 관련된 사건에 대한 기사와 이 문장이 유일한 힌트처럼 적혀 있을 뿐이었다.
에테르의 세계에 어서 오세요. 4월 1일 릴리 팬사이트 ‘릴리홀릭’ 오픈. 이야기는 여기서 시작된다.
유이치는 중1 여름방학 이후, 친한 친구였던 동급생의 주도 하에 갑작스레 왕따를 당하게 된다. 유이치는 마음의 고통을 카리스마적 존재인 여제 '릴리 슈슈'의 세계를 통해 치유하려 한다. 오직 그곳만이, 내가 나로 있을 수 있는 비상구인 것처럼... 학교폭력, 도둑질, 원조교제… 폐쇄감에 짓눌릴 것 같은 일상과, 도피처인 릴리 슈슈의 팬사이트에 침투하는 비일상의 틈새 속에서 살아가는 14살 유이치. 청춘의 어두운 면을 현실적으로 묘사하여 화제를 불러일으킨 2001년 개봉 영화 '릴리 슈슈의 모든 것'의 근원이 된 인터넷 게시판 소설이, 약 20년 만에 번역되어 출간된다.
All About Lily-Chou-Chou is a movie directed by Shunji Iwai; later he also turned the story into a novel. At first I thought the novel version would be a movie-tied-in, but thankfully I was wrong.
Lily-Chou-Chou (inspired by Chinese pop diva Faye Wong) is the name of a mysterious singer, whom is being viewed by her diehard fans as not just a diva, but also a prophetess and/or a goddess. The diva is frequently mentioned and quoted in the book but she never shows up as a character, instead All About Lily-Chou-Chou focused more on a group of teenagers chatting on internet chat-rooms and fans' forums; at the center of the story there also is a murder mystery: one year ago a high school boy was stabbed to death in the middle of the crowd during a Lily-Chou-Chou's concert, and the fans now want to solve the mystery.
However, the author didn't intend this novel to become a traditional mystery novel, the identity of the killer is revealed in the middle of the book and then we go back in time before the murder took place and learnt what had really happened to those teenagers; and revealing the reasons why the murder had to take place. I suspect the author is more keen to reveal the fragility of relationship/friendship than solving the murder mystery. Mr. Iwai also revealed how a certain group of young people are unable to find anything to relay on, they can find nothing to ground themselves.
Years ago I watched the movie first, so I have no problem following the plots, the movie version of All About Lily-Chou-Chou is poetic, graceful and moving with a sense of loss and deep sadness always lingering around. On the other hand, the novel version of the story begins one year after the murder of the teenager took place, the first 1/4 of the book is in the form of chatroom's conversations, we are treated with different people chatting online about Lily-Chou-Chou, her music (I really enjoy how the mentality and different personalities of fans are being revealed) and the mysterious disappearance of a few certain active fans. Then after the murderer's confession we learn actually what happened before the murder case took place.
The book has it own share of flaws, though. The main character is weak and he never stands up against the bullies. That's my main complaint against this book.
Remark in Chinese: 岩井俊二的電影《All About Lily-Chou-Chou》,曾令我見識過如何用映像和故事來表達何謂生無可戀…