Hollywood Babylon ~The Paradise Lost~

It is the golden age of Hollywood, in the latter half of the 1930s. One day, the writer Eliott Walker makes a visit to Global Studios, a major cinema company. He is the author of "Triumphal Song of Youth", the best-seller which swept over the jazz age to become the representative novel of the 1920s. He received millions of dollars in royalties for this novel which was based on the story of his wife, but he squandered it all. As a result his wife had a nervous breakdown and was admitted to hospital, leading Eliott to indulge in drinking. Now, Eliott is forgotten.

Directed by Shuichiro Koike, Hollywood Babylon ~The Paradise Lost~ leans on a strong ensemble — Miki Maya, Sen Hosachi, Mire Aika — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1997.