Two films are released today in Japan: Kakegurui the Movie: Zettai Zetsumei Russian Roulette had its premiere back in April but a general release was pushed back to now due to the Japanese government imposing a state of emergency which, first, closed many cinemas, and then placed cinemas under reduced opening hours.
The second film released today looks like an interesting indie that draws upon the Covid-19 pandemic as material. While everyone and everything felt the impact of the pandemic, women were particularly affected by job cuts and domestic violence which saw a spike and a resultant rise in the suicide rate amongst females. Child abuse also rose during this period. It was a dynamic seen globally but this is among the first films to directly draw upon it for a story. You can read a little more about the issue here.
Here are the trailers:
Kakegurui the Movie: Zettai Zetsumei Russian Roulette
映画 賭ケグルイ絶体絶命ロシアンルーレット 「Kakegurui the Movie: Zettai Zetsumei Roshian Ru-retto」
Release Date: April 29th, 2021 (Original Date)
Duration: 119 mins.
Director: Tsutomu Hanabusa
Writer: Tsutomu Hanabusa, Minato Takano (Screenplay), Homura Kawamoto, Toru Naomura (Original Manga)
Starring: Minami Hamabe, Mahiro Takasugi, Aoi Morikawa, Ruka Matsuda, Ryusei Fujii, Natsumi Okamoto, Miki Yanagi, Akira Onodera, Elaiza Ikeda,
Synopsis: This is the second film to adapt the manga. The story centres on Hyakkaou Private Academy. From the outside it looks normal but for the student body it is a battleground where the sons and daughters of the elite take part in fierce gambling battles. Yumeko Jabami (Minami Hamabe) dominates everyone with her gambling prowess but the return of a former student named Makuro Shikigami (Ryusei Fujii) threatens her influence because he is a deadly gambler!
女たち 「Onnna-tachi」
Release Date: June 01st, 2021
Duration: 97 mins.
Director: Nobuteru Uchida
Writer: N/A
Starring: Yukiko Shinohara, Kana Kurashina, Atsuko Takahata, Sahel Rosa, Shunsuke Kubozuka, Kanako Tsutsui,
Synopsis mostly taken from the website: Ever since graduating from a Tokyo university, nothing has gone right for 39-year-old Misaki (Yukiko Shinohara). She had to return to her home in a rural town where her hard-hearted mother lives and she has been unable to get worthwhile employment. The bright spots in her life are her relationships with her childhood friend Kaori (Kana Kurashina) and her romantic relationship with her aging, handicapped mother Mitsuko’s care worker, Naoki (Shunsuke Kubozuka). They are much needed, especially during the time of the Covid-19 pandemic but when these two pillars of support disappear from her life, Misaki is pushed to the brink of a crisis…