Greasepaint

"Greasepaint" is a film that intertwines a dramatic exploration of identity with elements of thriller and horror. The story revolves around a con artist named Pierrot, who survives by stealing others' identities. As the boundaries between his real self and his assumed personas blur, he becomes obsessed with his doppelgänger’s near-superhuman charisma.

Set entirely in one location—an abandoned house in the middle of Tokyo that conceals the secrets of Hiro Nakamura—the film unravels as Pierrot discovers the life of Hiro, a young man who looks exactly like him. Hiro is admired as the perfect human, possessing the charm and charisma of a natural leader, and Pierrot makes him his next target. Pierrot meticulously studies Hiro through 100 videotapes he finds in Hiro's old room, learning to mimic his mannerisms, hairstyle, and speech patterns to the point of even fooling Hiro's best friend, Kaito.

However, things begin to unravel when Soon-Bok, Hiro's half-sister, unexpectedly appears at the doorstep. Initially confused, she decides to stay with Pierrot. As time goes on, though, their relationship deteriorates. Pierrot soon learns that Hiro’s parents plan to sell and demolish the house, while Soon-Bok re-watches a hidden tape that reveals Hiro had sexually assaulted her during his graduation party. This discovery leads to a confrontation between Soon-Bok and Pierrot, where she attempts to destroy the camera before fleeing the house.

Still posing as Hiro, Pierrot decides to host another “graduation party,” seeing it as his ultimate test to convince Hiro’s old classmates that he truly is Hiro. During the party, Pierrot overhears rumors of Hiro’s assault on Soon-Bok, which leads him to discover missing tapes in which Hiro blames society for failing to recognize his brilliance, culminating in his own suicide as an act of revenge.

Trapped in an identity crisis, Pierrot finds himself unable to separate his true self from Hiro’s persona, leading to a confrontation with a shadowy figure—a personification of his deepest fears. Ultimately, Pierrot is saved by Soon-Bok, who, burdened by guilt, returns to the house to free him.