Who is guilty when one of the personalities residing in a person with a Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)--commonly known as a split personality disorder--commits murder? And are the other personalities co-conspirators? This provocative DID film raises such questions and more. It joins a subculture of DID movies that seem to walk a fine line between suspense and exploitation. In this case, the subject apparently has 12 personalities (or personality states)--hardly a record number--that can appear and disappear on screen randomly and in the blink of an eye (or speed edit). They are an augmentative bunch who constantly bicker, but can also thoughtfully interact. Once the plot calms down (there are other matters the film stretches to address), the focus remains on a clinic with a treating therapist and a police detective. The latter is investigating a murder. The film is loaded with cinematic tricks that help the actors to deliver excellent performances. There are numerous shots made from above and below characters, but perhaps the most innovative is when the camera continually circles the characters with voices linked to the panning by first being heard then fading then being heard again in one sustained shot. Music is fine. Subtitles are outstanding with light and dark parts of a scene having corresponding dark and light text so that titles can always be seen! The film ends abruptly with some nonsense about all of society being responsible for those who are murdered. However, the closing leaves open the possibility that everyone (and everything) has been invented by the disordered protagonist including the therapist and the police detective. So who is real and who is DID generated? The clues are there. Viewed at Japan Cuts. WILLIAM FLANIGAN.
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