Happy Weekend
You know the drill. This is the first of a two-part trailer post. More films will be posted tomorrow.
What are the first batch of films released this weekend?
せかいのおきく 「Sekai no Okiku」
Release Date: April 28th, 2023
Duration: 89 mins.
Director: Junji Sakamoto
Writer: Junji Sakamoto (Screenplay),
Starring: Haru Kuroki, Kanichiro, Sosuke Ikematsu, Koichi Sato, Renji Ishibashi, Claude Maki,
I first wrote about this for the Rotterdam International Film Festival 2023 preview.
Junji Sakamoto is one of those directors who has racked up awards and great titles (Face) but doesn’t have the international presence of someone like Shunji Iwai has. This might tip him over the edge.
The film features great performers like Haru Kuroki (The Bride of Rip Van Winkle), Renji Ishibashi (The Bird People of China), Sosuke Ikematsu (The Tokyo Night Sky is Always the Densest Shade of Blue) and Koichi Sato (Starfish Hotel). Sato’s son, Kanichiro, has a leading role, too.
Synopsis: In this coming-of-age period drama, we are taken to Edo-era Japan and we watch two manure collector, whose work is to turn the waste from the tenement toilets into fertiliser to sell to local farmers, and a a paper shavings collector, both of whom meet Okiku, the only daughter of a fallen samurai. A story of romance and resilience unfolds, all told with black-and-white photography embellished with glimpses of colour, revealing both the beautiful and the foul.
Tokyo MER: Mobile Emergency Room The Movie 
劇場版TOKYO MER～走る緊急救命室～ 「Gekijoban Tokyo MER: Hashiru Kinkyuukyuumeishitsu」
Release Date: April 28th, 2023
Duration: 128 mins.
Director: Aya Matsuki
Writer: Tsutomu Kuroiwa (Screenplay),
Starring: Ryohei Suzuki, Kento Kaku, Nanao, Makiko Watanabe, Riisa Naka, Ayami Nakajo,
This is the movie adaptation of the same-named TV drama where medical workers go from disaster to disaster in, as the title reveals, a mobile emergency room.
Synopsis: When the Landmark Tower in Yokohama suffers an explosion, the team are eager to head to the scene but there’s a rival MER group based in Yokohama who want to take charge. Dr. Kitami has a need to get to the disaster site, however, since his pregnant wife is stuck in the building!
Akina Nakamori East Live Index 23 4K Digitally Remastered Version for Theatres 
中森明菜イースト・ライヴ インデックス23 劇場用4Kデジタルリマスター版 「Nakamori Akiko I-suto Raibu Indekkusu 23 Gekijouyo 4K Digitaru Rimasuta – kan」
Release Date: April 28th, 2023
Duration: 92 mins.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Starring: Akina Nakamori
Synopsis: This is a 4K digitally remastered theatrical version of a performance given by Akina Nakamori at Yomiuri Land EAST in Tokyo in 1989.