LINDA, LINDA, LINDA (Japan – 2005)
Directed by: Nobuhiro Yamashita
Starring: Aki Maeda, Bae Doo-Na, Shiroi Sekine, Yu Kashii
“Even for those entirely unfamiliar with the history of Japanese rock music this film's infectious, three-chord charm will prove hard to resist.”
- Tom Mes, Midnight Eye

A film about awkward conversations, listless moments and shy glances you start out expecting LINDA LINDA LINDA to be an art flick, but by the end you realize that this is a punk anthem about how rock and roll will save our souls. In three days Shiba High is holding their annual Holly Festival complete with a musical talent show, but trouble is brewing in a girl’s rock band when the lead guitarist, Moe, injures her finger and has to bow out. The three members soldier on: Kyoko (Aki Maeda – BATTLE ROYALE) is on drums, Nozumi (Shiori Sekine from the real life band “Base Ball Bear”) is on bass and Kei (Yu Kashii – the very cool looking secret weapon in LORELEI) switches from keyboards to guitar. And finally, they recruit a shy Korean exchange student to be their singer (Bae Doo-Na, SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE). Their plan is to cover three songs from the 1980’s band, The Blue Hearts,  – “My Right Hand”, “Endless Song” and their biggest hit “Linda, Linda Linda”.  And that’s the movie. But this minimalist masterpiece sneaks up on you and, before you know it, you’re hooked on its hypnotic groove.

The Blue Hearts were a popular Clash-esque ensemble from the mid-80’s till their breakup in the 90’s and whenever the girls are asked what they are playing, they respond “The Blue Hearts” and everyone just nods their head and says “cool” and so they are. The soundtrack is from James Iha of the "Smashing Pumpkins" who keeps things tight and simple until the finale when the band hits the stage, grabs the mic and shouts out, "Let's sing an endless song for this asshole of a world.” They’re singing for all of us, because they can put us in uniforms, they can make us go to school, they can break our hearts and they can crush our souls, but they can’t stop us from forming a band.