Happy Weekend
This is the first part of a two-part trailer post!
The Cannes Film Festival has kicked off and I placed on the Heroic Purgatory Twitter account a tweet thread of film coverage from the trade papers like Variety and Hollywood Reporter. Kore-eda’s Monster got a lot of reviews from day two but I’ve been skim reading to avoid major spoilers for many of the reviews since it’s a Rashomon-like story. Anyway, check that thread since it will be updated with more reviews and news!
Also Heroic Purgatory related, we released an episode dedicated to John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China! Check it out!
What are the first batch of Japanese films released this weekend?
A Hard Day 
最後まで行く 「Saigo Made Iku」
Release Date: May 19th, 2023
Duration: 118 mins.
Director: Michihito Fujii
Writer: Michihito Fujii, Kenya Hirata (Screenplay), Kim Seong-hun (Original Manga)
Starring: Go Ayano, Jun’ichi Okada, Ryoko Hirosue, Akira Emoto, Hayato Isomura,Maho Yamada. Tetta Sugimoto,
This is a remake of the same-named Korean film and it is helmed by Michito Fujii (The Journalist) and stars Junichi Okada (The Fable 1 and 2) and Gou Ayano (The Light Shines Only There).
Synopsis: Detective Yuji Kudo is driving frantically through the night to reach his mother who lies in hospital in critical condition. His wife calls to inform him he won’t make it. This, after learning that the chief of police has questions about his involvement in a slush fund. With so much pressure, it’s no wonder that Yuji hits a man who unexpectedly steps onto the road. Yuji puts the man’s corpse in the boot of his car, takes it to the hospital and then places it in his mother’s casket. This is when he gets another terrible message by phone. It’s from Yazaki, an inspector at the prefectural police headquarters. It says, “You killed a person. I know this.” !!!!!!
Uchuu-jin no Aitsu 
宇宙人のあいつ 「Uchuu-jin no Aitsu」
Release Date: May 19th, 2023
Duration: 117 mins.
Director: Ken Iizuka
Writer: Ken Iizuka (Screenplay),
Starring: Tomoya Nakamura, Sairi Ito, Yuki Himura, Tokio Emoto, Megumi Seki, Osamu Shitara,
Synopsis: An alien who came from Saturn 23 years ago on a mission to investigate humans, lives with the Sanada siblings and has taken the name Hideo. From them he learns concepts surrounding family and other things related to everyday life. With only a few days left on his mission, his final struggle to live life as a human being begins.
「Amuse Presents SUPER HANDSOME LIVE 2022 “ROCK YOU! ROCK ME!!”」3 Live Screens 
「Amuse Presents SUPER HANDSOME LIVE 2022 “ROCK YOU! ROCK ME!!”」3面ライブスクリーン 「「Amuse Presents SUPER HANDSOME LIVE 2022 “ROCK YOU! ROCK ME!!”」San-men Raibu Sukuri-n」
Release Date: May 19th, 2023
Duration: N/A
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Starring: Ruito Aoyagi, Ryota Aoyama, Kazuki Ishiga, Kenta Izuka, Tomohiro Iwasaki,
Synopsis: The “Handsome Live,” “SUPER HANDSOME LIVE” is an event that started in 2005 to showcase young actors from the talent agency Amuse and “Team Handsome! This is the 2022 performance and features a total of 21 “Team Handsome! members. It will be presented in 8K and on three screens to mimic being at a concert.
Eikyuu Shounen Eternal Boys Tokubetsu Henshuu-ban 
永久少年 Eternal Boys 特別編集版 「Eikyuu Shounen Eternal Boys Tokubetsu Henshuu-ban」
Release Date: May 19th, 2023
Duration: 73 mins
Director: migmi
Writer: Kimiko Ueno (Series Composition), ma2 (Original Creator)
Starring: Jun Fukuyama (Haru Asai), Daisuke Hirakawa (Kentaro Sanada), Daisuke Namikawa (Tsuyoshi Imagawa), Toshiyuki Morikawa (Daisuke Yamanaka), Katsuyuki Konishi (Naoki Ishida), Hiroki Touchi (Nicolai Asakura)
Animation Production: LIDEN FILMS
This is a compilation film based on a 24-episode TV anime about idol guys (they are in their 40s). It comes ahead of the movie sequel which gets released on June 09th. The links above take you to that film’s information on Anime News Network and My Anime List.
Synopsis: When Kentaro Sanada’s company goes bankrupt, he struggles to find employment due to being middle aged. Due to a misunderstanding, he finds himself joining an old-man idol group by the name of “Eternal Boys” and meets a bunch of other “old men” from various walks of life, including an ex-teacher, an ex-child acot, and an ex-football player. Together, they take to the stage!
Synapusyu The Movie 
シナぷしゅ THE MOVIE ぷしゅほっぺにゅうワールド 「Shinapushu THE MOVIE Pushu Hoppe Nyuu Wa-rudo」
Release Date: May 19th, 2023
Duration: 50 mins
Director: Takaharu Shimizu
Writer: N/A
Starring: Ayaka Iwamoto (Pushu Pushu), Hiroshi Tamaki (Nyu), Takehide Shimakawa (Ukiyoe-san),
Synopsis: A film adaptation of a TV Tokyo children’s show about Pushu Pushu, a creature that lives a carefree life on the planet PUSHU-PUSHU. After a meeting with a fairy named Niu, the two go on an advennture around the universe…
Shizukananaru Don – Part 2 
静かなるドン 後編 「Shizukananaru Don Kouhen」
Release Date: May 19th, 2023
Duration: 149 mins.
Director: Kento Yamaguchi
Writer: Riuji Yoshizaki, Kento Yamaguchi (Screenplay), Tatsuo Nitta (Original Manga)
Starring: Kentaro Ito, Miwako Kakei, Takahiro Konishi, Susumu Terajima, Yoshimi Tachi, Hiroto Honda, Mariko Tsutsui, Chika Uchida, Motoko Fukami,
This is one of a series of stories that depicts the lives of outlaw protagonists from the Showa and Heisei eras in the modern world. Last week saw the first part of this story released.
Synopsis: In the last part… Shizuya Kondo is the only son of the leader of the Kanto region’s largest yakuza gang, the Shinsengumi. Despite this, Shizuya walks away from the life and takes up work as an underwear designer. Now no longer a carnivore and living the life of a herbivore, he finds contentment but when his father is assassinated, Shizuya agrees to take the reins of the clan but he also tries to maintain his day job and that means hiding his criminal alter-ego form his work colleagues…
In this part, questions surround Shizuya’s ability to lead as a gang war intensifies. Meanwhile, his love for Akino is thwarted by his position as a gangster!
Magome Documentary 
まーごめ180キロ 「「Ma-gome 180 Kiro」
Release Date: May 19th, 2023
Duration: 119 mins.
Director: Tokio Shiratake
Writer: N/A
Starring: Masashi Otsuru, Yohei Hinohara, Gaku,
Synopsis: “Magome” is a word which was invented by the overweight comedian Otsuru of the Manzai duo Mama Tart. What does it mean??? This documentary aims to find out via interviews with the man himself and his comedian friends.