Welcome to the Weekend…
We made it to Friday…
This is part one of a two-part trailer post. Now that my workplace has re-opened to the public I’ll be working this weekend so it isn’t as happy as it would normally be. I’m already feeling a bit battered, exhausted, and down about various things. This music helps me feel a little better.
Then there was tragic news that Kentaro Miura, creator of Berserk had died.
I discovered the series back with the Dreamcast game then wrote about the first of the trilogy of films in 2011. I had ditched the anime after the first episode but a passionate fan persuaded me to watch the rest of the series. I’m glad I did because, alongside my mother, sister, grandparents, and some key films, it helped inspire me when I was between jobs and a little lost. Behind the fantasy-horror, its story is all about the dreams we hold, the bonds we make with people, the pain of loss, and the hope we cling on to in life. I think about various scenes and listen to the music from time to time and I remain in awe that Kentaro Miura created something as influential as Berserk. A belated thank you to the man.
Kentaro Miura, RIP
You can read my reviews of the recent films
Berserk: Golden Age Arc I: The Egg of the King
Berserk Golden Age Arc II: The Battle for Doldrey
Berserk: Golden Age Arc III: Advent
If you can, watch the TV anime and read the manga.
Wherever you are Nadia, thanks for the recommendation. I’ll be returning to Berserk soon to keep me going.
Just as miserable is the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Palestinians with a huge amount of civilians getting caught up (particularly children). If you want to contribute to aid efforts, head over to Another Screen where you watch films by female Palestinian filmmakers for free. You can donate money which will go to facilitating medical, legal, and infrastructure aid with some donations going to support aspects of the Palestinian film industry.
This week I posted reviews of the films Farewell: Comedy of Life Begins with a Lie and Haruka’s Pottery.
I watched the films Natural Born Killers, C.H.U.D., HANA-BI (which I talked about on Heroic Purgatory – episode coming soon), Frankie and Johnny and Out of the Dark, the Stephen Chow film.
What are some of the films released in cinemas?
A Morning of Farewell 
いのちの停車場 「 Inochi no Teishajo」
Release Date: May 21st, 2021
Duration: 119 mins.
Director: Izuru Narushima
Writer: Emiko Hiramatsu (Screenplay), Kyoko Minami (Original Novel)
Starring: Sayuri Yoshinaga, Min Tanaka, Suzu Hirose, Tori Matsuzaka, Toshiyuki Nishida, Eiko Koike,
Synopsis: After Sawako (Sayuri Yoshinaga) quits working as an emergency physician at a university hospital, she returns to her family home in Ishikawa Prefecture where her father, Tatsuro’s (Min Tanaka), runs a local clinic that provides both on-site treatment and home healthcare. She joins the staff with the intention of helping out the patients but it takes time to fit in with the work. Fortunately, she has support from the clinic’s director, Toru (Toshiyuki Nishida), a nurse, Mayo (Suzu Hirose), and also Seiji (Tori Matsuzaka), a former colleague at her former hospital who has followed her to the clinic.
A Madder Red 
茜色に焼かれる 「 Akaneiro ni Yakareru」
Release Date: May 21st, 2021
Duration: 144 mins.
Director: Yuya Ishii
Writer: Yuya Ishii (Screenplay),
Starring: Machiko Ono, Iori Wada, Yuki Katayama, Masatoshi Nagase, Joe Odagiri, Aki Maeda, Tateto Serizawa,
Synopsis: Ryoko Tanaka (Machiko Ono) has raised her son Junpei (Iori Wada) and run a cafe by herself ever since her husband Yoichi (Joe Odagiri) died. She also took on the role of a guardian for her father-in-law, who lives in a nursing home. Both Ryoko and Junpei are at breaking point through various stresses as Ryoko must contend with Covid-19 and Junpei is being bullied at school…
End-Of-Life Concierge 
お終活 熟春! 人生, 百年時代の過ごし方 「Oshukatsu juku haru! Jinsei, hyaku-nen jidai no sugoshikata」
Release Date: May 21st, 2021
Duration: 113 mins.
Director: Hideyuki Katsuki
Writer: Hideyuki Katsuki (Screenplay),
Starring: Masaru Mizuno, Ayame Gouriki, Atsuko Takahata, Isao Hashizume, Renji Ishibashi, Yuki Matsushita,
Synopsis: Shinichi Ohara (Isao Hashizume) and Chikako Ohara (Atsuko Takahata) are an old married couple who have been at each other’s throats ever since Shinichi retired from his job. With nothing to do, he stays at home and has become a difficult presence. Their daughter, Aya Ohara (Ayame Gouriki) meets Ryota Kanno (Masaru Mizuno), a funeral undertaker, and through him the Ohara women decide to attend an Oshukatsu Fair where they can get the latest information on preparing for death, but Shinichi doesn’t like that and his attitude gets even worse…
Hell’s Garden 
地獄の花園 「 Jigoku no Hanazono」
Release Date: May 21st, 2021
Duration: 102 mins.
Director: Kazuaki Seki
Writer: Bakarhythm (Screenplay),
Starring: Mei Nagano, Alice Hirose, Masanobu Katsumura, Tomomi Maruyama, Nanao, Miyuki Oshima, Kenichi Endo, Satoru Matsuo, Eiko Koike
Synopsis: Naoko Tanaka (Mei Nagano) thinks her new friend Ran (Alice Hirose) is a normal office lady just like her. Ever since Ran joined the company, they have worked together and, in order to get to know each other they visit cafes together to eat cake and chat during their free time. Naoko is in for a surprise as Ran is really a charismatic Yankee OL whose trademark is a scajacket and Ran’s entrance into the company makes Naoko’s company a target for various gangs of office ladies from all over Japan.
Wadaiko Girls 
藍に響け 「Ai ni Hibike」
Release Date: May 21st, 2021
Duration: 117 mins.
Director: Yasuo Okuaki
Writer: Ayako Kato (Screenplay), Sutahiro (Original Manga)
Starring: Ayaka Konno, Sayu Kubota, Riko Nagase, Suzu Yamanouchi, Mariko Tsutsui, Mari Hamada, Mitsuru Fukikoshi,
Synopsis: Tamaki Matsuzawa (Ayaka Konno), the daughter of a wealthy family, attends a prestigious Catholic girl’s school. Everything is perfection until her father’s company goes bankrupt. Tamaki is ashamed and unable to tell her friends. However, one day, a new way to communicate appears when she is drawn to the vibrations of the sound of wadaiko drums (Japanese drums). They are played by Maria (Sayu Kubota), a girl who is unable to speak due to damage to her vocal cords caused by a car accident. The two girls find inspiration through these instruments and become part of the wadaiko club.