Happy weekend, everyone.
I hope you are all well.
The latest episode of thee Heroic Purgatory Asian Cinema Podcast is out and on it I talked with John about the Chloe Zhao film Nomadland. Please have a listen if you have the time! The next episode will be dedicated to the Takeshi Kitano film Hana-bi.
This week I posted about the Hawaii International Film Festival’s J-Fest programme which is now online for viewers in the US. I also posted a review of Koji Fukada’s drama The Real Thing.
This is part one of a two-part trailer post.
What is released this weekend?
At least one film that was pushed back from its original release due to the State of Emergency. Remain in Twilight was supposed to have come out at the end of April along with Kakegurui the Movie: Zettai Zetsumei Russian Roulette but with cinemas shuttering it was moved to May. The State of Emergency was extended as Covid-19 cases have risen to scary levels and so some cinemas remain shut. No sign of Kekgurui‘s release (unless I missed something).
Remain in Twilight 
く れ な ず め 「Kurenazume」
Release Date: May 12th, 2021
Duration: 96 mins.
Director: Daigo Matsui
Writer: Daigo Matsui (Screenplay)
Starring: Ryo Narita, Kengo Kora, Ryuya Wakaba, Atsuko Maeda, Marie Iitoyo, Rio uchida. Kenta Hamano, Kisetsu Fujiwara. Rikki Metsugi, Yuu Shirota,
Director Daigo Matsui of Japanese Girls Never Die, Ice Cream and the Sound of Raindrops, and How Selfish I Am! has adapted an original stage play based on his own experiences.
Synopsis: Kazuki Yoshio (Ryo Narita), Kinichi Fujita (Kengo Kora), Tetsuya Akashi (Ryuya Wakaba), Taku Sogawa (Kenta Hamano), Taisei Tajima (Kisetsu Fujiwara), Yusaku Mizushima (Rikki Metsugi) have been friends since high school. They reunite for thee first time in five years for a wedding where they perform an embarrassing dance and reminisce over their memories of their school days. It feels like their relationship will never change, but…
Beautiful Lure – A Modern Tale of “Painted Skin” 
美しき誘惑 現代の「画皮」 「Kurenazume」
Release Date: May 14th, 2021
Duration: 96 mins.
Director: Hiroshi Akabane
Writer: Sayaka Okawa (Screenplay), Ryuho Okawa (Original Story)
Starring: Nao Hasegawa, Ryoma Ichihara, Fumika Shimizu, Aya Sugimoto, Miho Yabe, David Ito, Moro Morooka, Yoshimi Ashikawa, Ryota Nakanishi
This is a Happy Science movie. It was written by the founder of the religion and stars a number of its members. Nao Hasegawa plays the siren leading Ryoma Ichihara astray with her beautiful looks. It features a special-effects melt-down at the end.
Synopsis: This is a story based on the legend of the “Nine Tailed Fox.” The story depicts the fate of Maiko Yamamoto (Nao Hasegawa), a demoness possessed by a nine-tailed fox, and Taro Shiomura (Ryoma Ichihara), a man widely expected to become the next Prime Minister of Japan. Maiko works for a bank by day and moonlights as a hostess at a high-class club in Ginza at night. She lures men in with her beauty and sucks the life out of them. Taro’s only hope of escape comes from a childhood friend who brings in a religious leader who can show him Maiko’s true nature…
Gekijouban Hontou ni Atta Kowai Hanashi Jiko Bukken Geinin 2 
劇場版 ほんとうにあった怖い話 事故物件芸人2 「Gekijouban Hontou ni Atta Kowai Hanashi Jiko Bukken Geinin 2」
Release Date: May 14th, 2021
Duration: 75 mins.
Director: Hiromitsu Amano
Writer: Hiromitsu Amano (Screenplay)
Starring: Mogura Suzuki, Katamari Mizukawa, Ken Koga, Disco Hoshino, Ainappu, Keisuke Nomura,
This is the second in an omnibus horror series that dramatizes the re-enactments of ghostly and frightening experiences in haunted properties submitted by the general public.
Synopsis: A newbie comedian named Soichiro visits a hot spring inn described in a diary left behind by a traveling comedian, but is struck by unexpected misfortune there. Meanwhile, Noboru, a struggling comedian looking for material on the Internet, sees a post that tells the tale of a taxi that will take you to a special place where you can face yourself. ALSO, a comedy duo who are finally becoming popular with their videos set in haunted properties, learn about two urban legends on the Internet: one about an inn where a comedian committed suicide, and the other about a cab that takes you to another world. The two begin to investigate these urban legends…
Ura Zokki 
裏ゾッキ 「Ura Zokki」
Release Date: May 14th, 2021
Duration: 75 mins.
Director: Rie Shinohara
Writer: Hiromitsu Amano (Screenplay)
Starring: Naoto Takenaka, Takayuki Yamada, Takumi Saitou,
Synopsis: This is a documentary that follows the production of the live-action adaptation of a Hiroyuki Ohashi’s manga Zokki. It was directed by Naoto Takenaka, Takayuki Yamada, and Takumi Saito and it was shot last year with the help of the people of Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture, many of whom worked as volunteers in the hope of attracting a film to the area for many years. The documentary depicts the people behind the scenes and the people in front of the camera, all of whom came together to make the film. The film is narrated by Reina Matsui, who appeared in Zokki, and the theme song is sung by Pistol Takehara.
The Grapes of Joy 
しあわせ の マスカット 「Shiawase no Masukatto」
Release Date: May 14th, 2021
Duration: 93 mins.
Director: Akio Yoshida
Writer: Yuuki Shimizu (Screenplay)
Starring: Riko Fukumoto, Naoto Takenaka, Masataka Nakagauchi, Yuika Motokariya, Hatsunori Hasegawa, Yoko Oshima, Minako Osanai, Yoji Tanaka,
Synopsis: Haruna Soma (Riko Fukumoto) is a young woman from Hokkaido who loves Japanese confectionary and her absolute favourite is one made with the queen of luxury grapes (and her grandmother’s absolute favourite), the “Muscat of Alexandria.” Inspired to learn more, she travels to Okayama and seeks employment with a company that produces the grapes and begins to work in the vineyards where she learns more from the gruff Yashiki Tatsuya (Naoto Takenaka), who teaches her about growing grapes. One day, she is called back to Hokkaido but floods bury the vineyards under the mud and Haruna decides to stay in Okayama and pitches in to save the company.