Happy Saturday!
I hope you are well.
I have taken a break from writing this week and spent some time doing gardening with my mother and recording an episode of the Heroic Purgatory podcast, this one dedicated to the 1993 Ang Lee film, The Wedding Banquet. In terms of films and TV that I have viewed, I am half-way through my re-watch of season 2 of The X-Files and I watched John Wick 2 and Snakes and Earrings.
What films are released this weekend?
Belle 
竜とそばかすの姫 「Ryuu to Sobakasu no Hime」
Release Date: July 16th 2021
Duration: 122 mins.
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Writer: Mamoru Hosoda (Script),
Starring: Kaho Nakamura (Suzu Naito/Belle), Takeru Satoh (The Dragon), Koji Yakusho (Suzu’s Father), Rira Ikuta (Hiroka “Hiro-chan” Betsuyaku), Mamoru Miyano (Muitarou Hitokawa / Tokoraemru),
Animation Production: Studio Chizu
This had its world premiere at Cannes on July 15th where it got a standing ovation that lasted over 10 minutes. It marks the 10th anniversary of Studio Chizu’s founding.
Synopsis: Suzu is a 17-year-old high school student living in a rural village with her father. The place is scarce of people but abundant in nature. Since the death of her mother she has closed herself off to the world and one activity that she loved doing with her mother, singing, has been impossible for her. When she enters “U,” a virtual world with five billion members, she takes part in a singing contest through her avatar, “Belle.” She becomes a world-famous singer and soon meets with a mysterious creature that will help her rediscover herself.
Restart 
リスタート 「Risuta-to」
Release Date: July 16th 2021
Duration: 100 mins.
Director: Hiroshi Shinagawa
Writer: Hiroshi Shinagawa (Script)
Starring: EMILY, SWAY, Makoto Shinada, Yuri Asakura, Beel Natsume, Shunsuke Fujii,
The film was written and directed by Hiroshi Shinagawa and stars musicians EMILY, the vocalist of the folk duo Honebone, as the main character Mio, and SWAY of DOBERMAN INFINITY as her friend Daiki.
Synopsis: Mio (EMILY) moved from Hokkaido to Tokyo to chase her dreams of becoming a singer/songwriter, but the best she could achieve was to be an underground idol. A scandal with a famous artist leads to her quitting and returning to her hometown of Shimokawa. Heartbroken, she finds it difficult to get along with others but her former classmate Daiki, her friends and family, and happy memories in the rich natural surroundings help her emotionally recover.
Sanma Democracy 
サンマデモクラシー 「Sanma Demokurashi-」
Release Date: July 17th 2021
Duration: 99 mins.
Director: Magoari Yamazato
Writer: N/A
Starring: Hayato Fujiki,
Here’s an interview with the director.
Synopsis: In the 1960s, Okinawa was under US military occupation. In 1963, an incident occurred when a 20 percent import tariff was levied on “sanma” (Pacific saury), then an affordable fish consumed by the common people. Ushi Tamashiro, a local fishmonger, took the Government of the Ryukyu Islands to court and challenged US authority as the case soon evolved into a battle over Okinawa’s autonomy.
Hoshizora no Mukou no Kuni 
星空のむこうの国 「Hoshizora no Mukou no Kuni」
Release Date: July 16th 2021
Duration: 93 mins.
Director: Kazuya Konaka
Writer: Hirotoshi Kobayashi (Script/Original Manga)
Starring: Oji Suzuka, Shiori Akita, Yusuke Sato, Rikka Ihara, Mei Fukuda, Mayu Takahashi,
This is a remake of an older film which is adapted from a manga.
Synopsis: After high schooler Akio (Oji Suzuka) is involved in an accident with a truck, he starts to dream of a girl who watches over him. One day, he sees her in real life while travelling on a train. This is just the beginning of meeting the girl again and again and the discovery that he is might be in a parallel reality and he might be dead…
Kud Wafter Movie Version 
劇場版 クドわふたー 「Gekijouban Kudo Wafuta-」
Release Date: July 16th 2021
Duration: 50 mins.
Director: Kentaro Suzuki
Writer: KAI (Script)
Starring: Naomi Wakabayashi (Kudryvavka Noumi), Yui Horie (Riki Naoe), Hikaru Midorikawa (Kyosuke Natsume), Riko Hirai (A-Chan Senpai),
Animation Production: J.C. Staff
This is an anime adaptation of a spin-off of Little Busters!, a visual novel game released in 2010.
Synopsis: The film follows the romantic relationship between Riki Naoe and Kudryavka Noumi from the game Little Busters! and their lively days spent with the members of the Little Busters. A plumbing accident occurs in the boys’ dormitory, and Riki’s room becomes uninhabitable and so Kudryavka offers to let Riki live with him in her room in the girls’ dormitory…