Happy weekend, everyone!
I hope you are all feeling good.
I am midway through a long week of work and I’m continuing with my “two films a day” routine with Japanese and Italian films from the 70s and also running press for a film festival. I also watched the Amazon series, The Boys and was impressed by how the studio adapted the comic book into a series that can go on and get a sequel. It has perfect world building to give depth to everyone and the set-up so that I was eager to watch each new episode to find out how the story would unfold and now I am eager to watch the second season. This week saw me post about the Japanese films at the Vancouver International Film Festival 2019 and the line-up for Raindance 2019 as well as a review for Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.
What is released this weekend?
Samurai Shifters 
引っ越し大名！ 「Hikkoshi Daimyo!」
Release Date: August 30th, 2019
Duration: 120 mins.
Director: Isshin Inudo
Writer: Akihiro Dobashi (Screenplay),
Starring: Gen Hoshino, Gaku Hamada, Yutaka Matsushige, Issey Takahashi, Mitsuki Takahata, Yukiyoshi Ozawa, Masahiko Nishimura, Mitsuhiro Oikawa, Yasuko Tomita,
This one was at Japan Cuts 2019 and seemed to have gone down well. It is a comedy that has an able cast with Gen Hoshino (Why Don’t You Play in Hell?, The Night is Short, Walk on Girl), Yutaka Matsushige (The Guard From Underground) and Mitsuki Takahata (Destiny: The Tale of Kamakura) taking leading roles.
Synopsis from Japan Cuts because it’s brilliant: In 17th century Japan, the Tokugawa shogunate ensures political dominance by forcing lords to move their clans from domain to domain. When the Echizen Matsudaira clan is called upon to make a particularly tough relocation, the undesired role of relocation officer falls to Harunosuke Katagiri (Gen Hoshino), a socially inept samurai librarian. Under the threat of forced harakiri, Harunosuke takes to the near impossible task with the help of a loudmouth swordsman (Issey Takahashi) and the former relocation officer’s daughter (Mitsuki Takahata).
Prison 13 
プリズン13 「Purizun 13」
Release Date: August 30th, 2019
Duration: 115 mins.
Director: Kensaku Watanabe
Writer: Kensaku Watanabe (Script),
Starring: Mayu Hotta, Ken Nakajima, Kenshiro Iwai, Yuka Yano, Shohei Uno, Mamiko Ito, Nao Okabe, Tateto Serizawa, Tomomi Itano, Moeko Konno, Chihiro Okamoto,
This movie was inspired by the “Stanford Prison Experiment” which took place in 1971 where test subjects split between prisoners and warders eventually fell into tribalism and acts of cruelty. The film seems to take place in one location. It comes from the director of the bittersweet comedy Emi-Abi, Kensaku Watanabe.
Synopsis: A popular online personality named Sophia sets up a seven-day experiment in a prison where 12 people are split into groups of prisoners and prison officers to see how things will turn out. Mari (Mayu Hotta), a university student, is a warder and, you guessed it, the experiment turns violent.
Koisuru Antihero The Movie 
恋するアンチヒーロー THE MOVIE 「Koisuru Anchihi-ro- The Movie」
Release Date: August 24th, 2019
Duration: 85 mins.
Director: Tsuyoshi Koizumi
Writer: Tsuyoshi Koizumi, Shu Hani (Script), Shu Hani (Original Work)
Starring: Shouta Takasaki, Shouhei Hashimoto, Yuu Takahashi, Kensuke Takahashi, Kandai Ueda, Masakazu Nemoto,
Synopsis: So, a warrior for an evil secret society bent on dominating the world falls for a cafe worker named Nana but her being a fan with a superhero causes him all sorts of headaches when it comes to his colleagues…
Niji no Kiseki 
ニジノキセキ 「Niji no Kiseki」
Release Date: August 31st24th, 2019
Duration: 80 mins.
Director: Park Yeong-I, Kim Kon-chul
Writer:
Starring: Kim Sa-ri
Synopsis: Korean schools face political and financial pressure in Japan with funds cut from the government and the rise in discrimination directed at Koreans. What do Koreans in Japan think of that reality? This documentary reveals the reality of the situation. Through close contact and cooperation with the teachers of a Korean school in Hyogo Prefecture, the film shows the daily reality faced by staff and students that the media neglects to show. In order to look at the present and towards the future, the film also looks to the past and interviews people about the “4.24 Hanshin Educational Struggle” that occurred in 1948, which is indispensable for talking about the history of Korean schools.
Hikari au seimei (inochi). Kokoro ni yorisou. 2 
光り合う生命（いのち）。 心に寄り添う。2 「Hikari au seimei (inochi). Kokoro ni yorisou. 2」
Release Date: August 30th24th, 2019
Duration: 80 mins.
Director: Takayuki Okutsu
Writer:
Starring: Rin Kijima, Yurin Watanabe,
Synopsis: Rin Kijima and Yurin Watanabe host this documentary which covers people with problems and disabilities such as bullying and truancy. Here, they look at the religious organisation Happy Science and their university which runs a course named “What is life?” which is taught by a 95-year-old woman. Speakers on the course include senior citizens, such as women who are suffering from incurable diseases and who are passionate about overseas support. These guests help people with problems by sharing their stories and giving a new perspective on life.
Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o! Kurenai Densetsu 
この素晴らしい世界に祝福を！紅伝説 「Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o! Kurenai Densetsu」
Release Date: August 30th, 2019
Duration: 100 mins.
Director: Takaomi Kanasaki
Writer: Makoto Uezu (Screenplay), Natsume Akatsuki (Original Creator)
Starring: Akeno Watanabe (Sylvia), Jun Fukushima (Kazuma), Sora Amamiya (Aqua), Maria Naganawa (Komekko), Sayuri Hara (Luna), Rie Takahashi (Megumin), Ai Kayano (Darkness),
Animation Production: J.C. Staff
Synopsis: Kazuma was a shut-in student in Japan but when he died in a traffic accident he met the goddess Aqua and was given the chance to reincarnate in a fantasy world and can keep one thing with him. He chose Aqua and she accompanied him to their new lives where they go on quests along with the sorceress Megumin and swordswoman Darkness. It’s a struggle just to earn enough money to live for the four, but at least they have each other and in this film they head to Megumin’s home town.