Happy weekend!
I hope everyone is well.
This post has been delayed because I’ve been busier than normal this week doing courses on top of my regular job and it’s been fun doing something outside of work with new people. I released some reviews I wrote earlier in the year, If Cats Disappeared From the World and When I Get Home, My Wife Always Pretends to be Dead. I’ll be gearing up for next year’s festival season so December is going to be busy as well.
What is released this weekend?
Human Lost 
人間失格 「Ningen Shikkaku」
Duration: 116 mins.
Release Date: November 29th, 2019
Director: Katsuyuki Motohiro
Writer: Tow Ubukata (Screenplay), Osamu Dazai (Original Creator),
Starring: Mamoru Miyano (Yozo Oba), Haruka Chisuga (Tsuneko), Jun Fukuyama (Takeichi), Kana Hanazawa (Yoshiko Hiiragi), Miyuki Sawashiro (Madam),
Animation Production: Polygon Pictures
Synopsis: Tokyo, 2036, and society is deeply divided between the rich and poor. It is only the rich who can access a revolutionary medical discovery involving the use of nanomachines to prolong human life to 120 years and remove the possibility of illness. A poor man by the name of Yozo has no hope of accessing this. However when he joins a friend’s biker gang he finds himself drawn into a conspiracy that unlocks new parts of him…
Love and Murder of Sheep and Wolf 
羊とオオカミの恋と殺人 「Hitsuji to Ookami no Koi to Satsujin」
Release Date: November 29th, 2020
Duration: 103 mins.
Director: Kayoko Asakura
Writer: Izumi Takahashi (Screenplay), Rahson (Manga)
Starring: Yusuke Sugino, Haruka Fukhara, Noriko Eguchi, Manami Enosawa, Sho Kasamatsu, Naoya Shimizu, Wataru Ichinose,
Synopsis: Etsuro Kurosu (Yosuke Sugino) tries to commit suicide because he’s failed to get into university but he even fails in killing himself and leaves a hole in the wall separating his apartment from that of his cute neighbour, Rio Miyaichi (Haruka Fukuhara). He begins peaking through like a peeping tom and discovers that she is a murderer. Etsuro screams and is caught by her but just before she can add him to her kill list Etsuro pulls of the slickest of moves and confesses that he loves her and they start to date. Can his newfound happiness last?
The Sower 
種をまく人 「Tane o maku hito」
Running Time: 117 mins.
Release Date: November 29th, 2019
Director: Yosuke Takeuchi
Writer: Yosuke Takeuchi (Screenplay)
Starring: Kentaro Kishi, Suzuno Takenaka, Tomomitsu Adachi, Arisa Nakajima, Ichika Takeuchi,
I had the pleasure of watching this as part of the Osaka Asian Film Festival last year (review) where I also met its director, Yosuke Takeuchi (interview). It’s a fine film, one of the best I have seen in recent years. Its genesis comes from the personal life of the director and also the life of Vincent van Gogh and how the artist lived a humble and naive existence to the full despite the treatment he faced from society and it looks at how guilt and atonement can shape a person in a harrowing story told from the perspective of a child and an adult.
Synopsis: Mitsuo was one of those brave souls who answered the call for volunteers to clear out the debris left behind by the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. The strain of the task proved to be too much and he spent three years in psychiatric care. Upon his release, Mitsuo finds solace in reuniting with his brother and his nieces Chie and Itsuki. But a tragic accident soon disrupts the newly found happiness when the two girls are left in his care and Itsuki is killed. Though he had no direct involvement in the incident, Mitsuo is blamed and this causes him and the people around him to deal with the burden of guilt and the struggle for atonement.
Manriki 
Release Date: November 29th, 2020
Duration: 88 mins.
Director: Yasuhiko Shimizu
Writer: Yasuhiko Shimizu, Nagano (Screenplay),
Starring: Takumi Saito, Nagano, Nobuaki Kaneko Shuhei Nogae, Misuzu Kanno,
Synopsis: A woman who aspires to be a model finds that she cannot crack the market and so works as a cashier in a supermarket. She blames her lack of success on her face, which she feels is too big. How to change, how to change…
Plastic surgery…
She heads to the Manriki Beauty Clinic where a strange and sinister savant of a surgeon seeks to achieve the highest standards of beauty through dubious methods and hideous tools. She becomes yet another of his “patients” and as she finds herself on the operating table, he is revealed online for his methods and has to go on the run…
Out Zone 
Release Date: November 29th, 2020
Duration: 115 mins.
Director: Hiroshi Kanno
Writer: Mari Takanashi (Screenplay/Original Work),
Starring: Minami Matsunaka, Masato Oki, Mari Hayashida, Gen Kuwayama, Yuusuke Ueda, Yuusuke Sugiyama,
Synopsis: The film follows a number of people like Chinatsu, a kindergarten teacher, who have fallen prey to mental health problems due to the constant stress of everyday life and tragedies. Child murder, impostor syndrome and other delusions are featured in this story.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These Chapter 3 
銀河英雄伝説 Die Neue These 星乱 第三章 「Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu Die Neue These Seiran Dai Sanshou」
Release Date: November 29th, 2019
Duration: 93 mins.
Director: Shunsuke Tada
Writer: Noboru Takagi (Series Composition), Yoshiki Tanaka (Novel)
Starring: Kenichi Suzumura (Yang Wen-li), Mamoru Miyano (Reinhard von Lohengramm), Yuichiro Umehara (Siegfried Kircheis), Kana Hanazawa (Hildegard von Mariendorf),
Animation Production: Production I.G.
This is the third instalment of episodes that cover the second season of the TV anime.
Synopsis: Two interstellar human states – the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance – are locked in a seemingly never-ending conflict and two leaders emerge, Reinhard von Lohengramm from the Galactic Empire and Yang Wen-li from the Free Planets Alliance. They will become Galactic Heroes.
Gundam: G no Reconguista Movie Go! Core Fighter 
劇場版 Gのレコンギスタ I 行け！コア・ファイター 「Gekijouban G no Rekongisuta I Ike! Koa Faita-」
Release Date: November 29th, 2019
Duration: 93 mins.
Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino
Writer: Yoshiyuki Tomino (Series Composition), Yoshiyuki Tomino, Hajime Yatate (Original Creator)
Starring: Mark Ishii (Bellri Zenam), Yu Shimamura (Aida Surugan), Akio Hirose (Cumpa Rusita), Atsuko Tanaka (Wilmit Zenam) Atsuki Tani (Lorucca Biskes), Chihiro Suzuki (Happa),
Animation Production: Sunrise
Synopsis: Bellri Zenam has been recruited to protect a tower which brings resources to Earth and he gets caught up in a space pirate attack where a girl named Aida is captured. She has the power to activate her high-performance mobile suit that she calls “G-Self” and she joins Bellri in an adventure.
Tetsuya Kumagawa K Ballet Company “The Nutcracker” in Cinema 
熊川哲也 Kバレエ カンパニー 「くるみ割り人形」 in Cinema 「Kumakawa tetsuya K barē kanpanī `Kurumi wari Ningyo’ in Cinema」
Running Time: 92 mins.
Release Date: November 29th, 2019
Director: Tetsuya Kumakawa
Writer: N/A
Starring: Shoko Nakamura, Yusuke Osozawa. Mina Kobayashi, Ren Kuriyama, Saya Narita, Yuya Takahashi, Mayuka Asano, Masaya Yamamoto,
Synopsis: This is the tenth in a series of films that bring the performances of the Kumagawa Tetsuya K Ballet Company to the cinema screen. The story of The Nutcracker is a seasonal treat and brought to life by this talented company.
The next two films I watched nearly a decade ago. They have been re-released with new footage and voice actors.
Coluboccoro 
コルボッコロ 「Corubokkoro」
Release Date: November 29th, 2019
Duration: N/A
Director: Kenji Itoso
Writer: Kenji Itoso (Script/Original Creator)
Starring: Nanase Nishino (Suzu), Nichika Omori (Coluboccoro), Chiaki Omigawa (Tutor), Natsuko Hara (Suika) Atsuki Tani (Lorucca Biskes), Chihiro Suzuki (Happa),
Animation Production: Kenji Studio
Synopsis: A 14-year-old girl named Suzu is the descendant of a distinguished shaman who saved people from catastrophe in the past. Suzu sets out on a journey, along with the spirit of nature, Coluboccoro, to bring back peace and nature to ruined villages.
Santa Company: The Secret of Christmas 
サンタ・カンパニー クリスマスの秘密 「Santa Kanpani – : Kurisumasu no Himitsu」
Release Date: November 29th, 2019
Duration: N/A
Director: Kenji Itoso
Writer: Kenji Itoso, Ondayu (Script)
Starring: Kana Hanazawa (Noel White), Yuuki Kaji (Crystal Bell), Haruka Tomatsu (Mint Rondo), Rie Kugimiya (Thomas Dow). Yusuke Kondo (Nicholas White),
Animation Production: Kenji Studio
The new version is commemorating 100 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Finland.
Synopsis: Noel is a 12-year-old girl who lives with her father. She despises Christmas because her father is never there and she cannot play with her friends from school. One lonely Christmas Eve, Noel takes her usual apartment complex elevator ride to her home, but when the doors open, she finds herself lost in a humongous factory — owned by Santa Claus and his business is called Santa Company. Nobody knows except Noel now and she will spread some magic and make some deliveries when she and some new friends they take off in a sled to deliver presents.
Me and Him 
ぼくと、彼と、 「Boku to, Kare to,」
Release Date: November 29th, 2019
Duration: 75 mins.
Director: 4 Seas Brothers
Writer:
Starring:
Synopsis: A documentary that tracks the daily life and wedding of a young Vietnamese refugee and his Japanese husband who is living with his mother who needs care.
The Manga Master 
漫画誕生 「Manga Tanjo」
Release Date: November 30th, 2019
Duration: 118 mins.
Director: Moe Oki
Writer: Moe Oki, Kousuke Wakaki (Script) Taro Arai (Original Work)
Starring: Issey Ogata, Tomoe Shinohara, Takuo Inari, Mika Akizuki, Gouichi Mine, Sakura Enomoto, Manaka Kinoshita,
Synopsis: Rakuten Kitazawa(Issey Ogata) is considered the first professional manga artist of the modern era. He won great acclaim for his comic strips which ran in magazines and newspapers like ‘Tokyo Puck’ from the late Meiji period through the early Showa period. This film dramatises his career.
Enjiya reDESIGN 
演じ屋 reDESIGN 「Enjiya reDESIGN」
Release Date: November 30th, 2019
Duration: 118 mins.
Director: Teruo Noguchi
Writer: Teruo Noguchi (Script)
Starring: Nao, Kosuke Imai, Shinji Kasahara, Sara Yamashiro, Ichiro Tsukamoto, Chieri Ajioka,
Synopsis: Tokio, the store manager of a clothes repair shop, falls for Kiyoka, a part-timer at the story and becomes depressed when he spots her with a guy named Matsuda. He then discovers that Matsuda is a married man and proceeds to stick his oar in their relationship. So I guess it’s okay…?
Horse Beings 
馬ありて 「Uma Arite」
Release Date: November 30th, 2019
Duration: 88 mins.
Director: Ryohei Sasatani
Writer: Teruo Noguchi (Script) Taro Arai (Original Work)
Starring: Nao, Kosuke Imai, Shinji Kasahara, Sara Yamashiro, Ichiro Tsukamoto, Chieri Ajioka,
Synopsis: A documentary that follows the lives of horses and humans in Hokkaido and Iwate where they take part in the Banei Horse Racing circuit (information), a race inspired by what horses did in the late 1800s in Hokkaido where they pulled sleds loaded with timber harvested in the mountains. The relationship between horses and human beings, both past and present, is shown in this film in monochrome.
Haruka no Sue 
ハルカの陶 「Haruka no Sue」
Release Date: November 30th, 2019
Duration: 119 mins.
Director: Naruhito Suetsugu
Writer: Naruhito Suetsugu (Script) Disk Furai, Taisei Nishizaki (Original Work)
Starring: Nao, Hiroyuki Hirayama, Jun Murakami, Takashi Sasano, Maki Murakami,
This live-action movie is based on a comic of the same name that won the 13th Okayama Art and Culture Award for Achievement.
Synopsis: Haruka Koyama is an office worker from Tokyo and her days are stable but she decides to throw caution to the wind when she sees some Bizen-ware in a department store exhibition and is inspired by the craftsmanship to visit Bizen City in Okayama Prefecture and see the creator. She is so inspired she even goes as far as to become his disciple and discovers some of the drama in his life.
M Toru Muranishi Furious Days Full Version 
M 村西とおる狂熱の日々 完全版 「M Muranishi Toru Kyonetsu no Hibi Kanzenhan」
Release Date: November 30th, 2019
Duration: 109 mins.
Director: Ikki Katashima
Writer: N/A
Starring: Toru Muranishi, Nobuhiro Motohashi, Sujitaro Tamabukuro, Rieko Saibara,
Synopsis: A documentary of Toru Muranishi, the subject of the Netflix film ‘The Naked Director’. He is the man who revolutionised the AV industry and starred in a number of his own productions. This doc looks at a shoot he went into when he was heavily in debt to gangsters to the tune of 5 billion yen. He went off to Hokkaido for a shoot which was intense and full of drama…