Happy weekend, people!
I’m just about ready to get back into normal service again after spending much of last week working and much of this week travelling. The sun has been shining, I had dinner with a really cool person I admire and I visited good places. I am happy.
I have more OAFF 2018 reviews stacked up, the only reason I didn’t post them this week was because I was rushing around doing things or relaxing and exploring places and, I must admit, I need to do rewrites on some. That period is almost over as I am about to resume my normal life but the festival process is starting with Kotatsu and I am working on new projects in my day-job.
What is released this weekend in Japan (we’re on time this week, people!!!)?
見栄を張る「Mie wo haru」
Release Date: March 24th, 2018
Running Time: 93 mins.
Director: Akiyo Fujimura
Writer: Yusuke Moriguchi (Screenplay)
Starring: Mei Kanami, Keiko Koyanagi, Yoka Kubo, Miki Nitori, Atsuya Okada, Masahiro Saito, Masami Shinozaki, Nagiko Tsuji, Yoko Tsuji,
Eriko, Pretended was part of the Osaka Asian Film Festival 2016.
Synopsis: Eriko (Haruka Kubo) moved to Tokyo to become an actor but after ten years of trying she hasn’t quite made it. When her sister dies, Eriko returns home to attend the funeral where she delivers a eulogy. After the event she has to answer awkward questions about her acting career but, more importantly, she states that she will care for her sister’s ten-year-old son Kazuma…
Laughing Under the Clouds 
曇天に笑う 「Donten ni Warau」
Running Time: 94 mins.
Release Date: March 21st, 2018
Director: Katsuyuki Motohiro
Writer: Yuya Takahashi (Screenplay), Karakara Kemuri (Autobiographical Essay)
Starring: Sota Fukushi, Yuma Nakayama, Kirato Wakayama, Shunsuke Daito, Yuki Furukawa, Junya Ikeda, Ren Kiriyama, Yuta Koseki
Synopsis: The film takes place after the Meiji Restoration in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture. It follows the three sons of the Kumo family, Tenka (Sota Fukushi), Soramaru (Yuma Nakayama) and Chutaro (Kirato Wakayama). They are working with government special forces known as Yamainu to try and seal the power of Orochi, a giant snake that comes to life every 200 years and bbrings disaster to people. Trying to aid the giant snake are ninjas from the Fuma clan who want to use the snake to overthrow the government…
Girl’s Play 
女々演 「Jojoen」
Running Time: 76 mins.
Release Date: March 24th, 2018
Director: Mai Takano
Writer: Marie Kamimori (Screenplay),
Starring: Haruka Fukuhara, Tina Tamashiro, Fuuko Yagura, Karin Ono, Misaki Saito, Kohei Fukuyama, Ryuji Akiyama, Shuko Ito, Isao Hashizume,
Synopsis: When the star of the school theatre club quits the production three days before the cultural festival, the four other members of the play are forced to confront their motivations for being involved in the whole thing.
The Final Parting 
おみおくり 「Omiokuri」
Running Time: 117 mins.
Release Date: March 24th, 2018
Director: Hidehiro Ito
Writer: Hidehiro Ito (Screenplay), Yuko Nagai (Story)
Starring: Reiko Takashima, Ayane Nagabuchi, Shu Watanabe, Satomi Shigemori, Junko Miyashita, Masaya Kato, Nayu Kazrtani, Yuria Haga,
Synopsis: Yayoi Mitsushima (Reiko Takashima) is a funeral director who encounters Ai Kawamura (Ayane Nagabuchi), a young woman haunted by the death of her parents. To over her trauma, Ai decides she wants to train to become a funeral director.
Saimon and Tada Takashi 
サイモン＆タダタカシ 「Saimon and Tada Takashi」
Running Time: 83 mins.
Release Date: March 24th, 2018
Director: Manabu Oda
Writer: Manabu Oda (Screenplay)
Starring: Itsuki Sakamoto, Kenta Suga, Yuki Mamiya, Kai Inowaki, Hinako Tanaka, Keisuke Yamamoto, Yoko Oshima, Daikichi Sugawara,
Synopsis: Saimon (Itsuki Sakamoto) and Takashi (Kenta Suga) have graduated from the same high school but their lives are going in completely opposite directions. Saimon is going to university while Takashi is taking over his father’s garage. He wants to find a girl before he settles down but Saimon has feelings for him. Not that this will stop them going on an adventure looking for the perfect girl for Takashi…
Goku Tomo 
獄友 「Goku Tomo」
Running Time: 100 mins.
Release Date: March 24th, 2018
Director: Sung Woong Kim
Writer: N/A
Starring: Masashi Sakurai, Takuo Sugiyama, Kazuo Ishikawa,
Synopsis: The director of SAYAMA Mienai Tejo o Hazusu Made is back with a new documentary focussing on people accused of crimes they did not commit. These include Kazuo Ishikawa who was the subject of the SAYAMA doc.
From Taiwan with Love 
台湾より愛をこめて 「Taiwan yori ai o komete」
Running Time: 61 mins.
Release Date: March 24th, 2018
Director: Keigo Mihara
Writer: Hayato Miura (Screenplay)
Starring: Motoki Ochiai, Takuro Ono, Natsumi Okamoto, Shinobu Hasegawa, Kanae Hirohashi,
Synopsis: A road movie about two friends, Yusuke and Koichi, who went to Taiwan and met a girl named Rin who wants to be a singer and make a promise to meet again. Five years later, Rin has made it but the two friends are different. They meet once again…
Spit & Honey 
唾と蜜 「Tsuba to mitsu」
Running Time: 80 mins.
Release Date: March 24th, 2018
Director: Kenji Maki
Writer: Kenji Maki (Screenplay)
Starring: EINSHTEIN, Sh0h, Kanata Narise, Seiji Fujii, Taro Kaze,Kaori Shibuya, Marohi Okada, CIMA, TAIJI, Kashiwa, Young Coco,
Synopsis: A college student bored with his existence encounters a beat-boxer and through him a new way to express himself.