Receiving its world premiere at the Oldenburg International Film Festival, From Dawn Till Noon on the Sea proves a quietly unnerving and ultimately uplifting drama marked by its visual beauty and narrative restraint. This tale of three troubled souls reveals Japanese filmmaker Takayuki Hayashi to be an impressive talent with his feature directorial-screenwriting debut, which should garner attention on the festival circuit and merits international arthouse exposure.
Adapted from a manga by Shun Umezawa, the film establishes its solemnity from its opening seconds featuring a black screen, ominous whistling wind, and then a Biblical verse about a lost sheep. That could refer to any of the major characters in the story, which begins with a news report about a teenage schoolgirl, Mai (actress/model Hanon), who was kidnapped by a 20something man and confined to his apartment for 49 days, suffering from Ptsd as a result.
Returning to school, Mai keeps to herself,...
Adapted from a manga by Shun Umezawa, the film establishes its solemnity from its opening seconds featuring a black screen, ominous whistling wind, and then a Biblical verse about a lost sheep. That could refer to any of the major characters in the story, which begins with a news report about a teenage schoolgirl, Mai (actress/model Hanon), who was kidnapped by a 20something man and confined to his apartment for 49 days, suffering from Ptsd as a result.
Returning to school, Mai keeps to herself,...
- 9/15/2023
- by Frank Scheck
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A live-action film adaptation of a story by 2022 Manga Taisho award winner, Shun Umezawa, from his omnibus manga “With One and Ninety-Nine”. A small port town not too distant from a city plays host to three dramatic episodes, one involving a man who has given up on life and society, a girl kept confined because of that man, and her classmate who suffers violence. (Source: Genkinahito)
Produced as one episode in the omnibus movie Human, This Dramatic Thing by writer-director Takayuki Hayashi, this short film stars Kaito Yoshimura, Hanon and Yuu Uemura. It was first released on September 19, 2022 and is scheduled to be screened at Uplink Kichijōji in Tokyo from August 4, 2023 and thereafter released sequentially nationwide.
Produced as one episode in the omnibus movie Human, This Dramatic Thing by writer-director Takayuki Hayashi, this short film stars Kaito Yoshimura, Hanon and Yuu Uemura. It was first released on September 19, 2022 and is scheduled to be screened at Uplink Kichijōji in Tokyo from August 4, 2023 and thereafter released sequentially nationwide.
- 6/25/2023
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
Shinji Imaoka has moved far away from his pinku past during the recent years, with films like “Reiko and the Dolphin” proving the fact in the most eloquent fashion. At the same time, however, the sex element is not exactly void from his recent works, in an aspect that implies that he has not completely abolished his cinematic past. “Far Away, Further Away” is a testament to both elements.
Far Away, Further Away is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
Sayoko is a seemingly carefree woman, who works as a salesperson in a custom furniture company and has a happy relationship with her husband. However, recently she has started to realize that the two of them do not have much in common, and her efforts to change that do not bring any particular result. As such, she begins scouting for apartments, which leads her into meeting Yohei, a real estate...
Far Away, Further Away is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
Sayoko is a seemingly carefree woman, who works as a salesperson in a custom furniture company and has a happy relationship with her husband. However, recently she has started to realize that the two of them do not have much in common, and her efforts to change that do not bring any particular result. As such, she begins scouting for apartments, which leads her into meeting Yohei, a real estate...
- 3/23/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Films about various kinds of dystopias have been one of the recent trends of international cinema, although the Japanese have indulged in the genre for decades now, particularly through anime, although live action films have also had their share. Kenichi Ugana gives a go in the category in his sophomore feature, in a film that left me with mixed feelings. Let us take things from the beginning though.
Good -Bye Silence is available through Article Films
The story takes place in a futuristic Japan, where the “Pleasure Law” prohibiting any kind of entertainment, including novels, movies, and music is in effect. Furthermore, the police punish any who indulge in any kind of entertainment with immediate death, with Sugimura, a particularly violent cop being the enforcer of the police in the city the film takes place.
In this setting, boredom is one of the most common ailments, and the two protagonists,...
Good -Bye Silence is available through Article Films
The story takes place in a futuristic Japan, where the “Pleasure Law” prohibiting any kind of entertainment, including novels, movies, and music is in effect. Furthermore, the police punish any who indulge in any kind of entertainment with immediate death, with Sugimura, a particularly violent cop being the enforcer of the police in the city the film takes place.
In this setting, boredom is one of the most common ailments, and the two protagonists,...
- 2/4/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Yutaro Nakamura’s feature debut is another splendid sample of Japanese indie, that uses the familiar theme of the “love triangle,” to present a number of social issues among Japanese youths.
The people compiling the triangle are three individuals who have been friends since high school. Yat was a child actor who has turned away from his past and is now trying to become a rock star, as he is the lead singer in a band. Takuma is a photographer who shoots Yat frequently. Yumika is Takuma’s ex-girlfriend, a timid girl who still lives with her parents. The three of them seem to get along as friends, despite their past.
“Grab the Sun” screened at Japan Filmfest Hamburg
However, things are not as smooth as they initial seem. Takuma also deals drugs on the side, and has a couple of friends they all smoke drugs together, one of which...
The people compiling the triangle are three individuals who have been friends since high school. Yat was a child actor who has turned away from his past and is now trying to become a rock star, as he is the lead singer in a band. Takuma is a photographer who shoots Yat frequently. Yumika is Takuma’s ex-girlfriend, a timid girl who still lives with her parents. The three of them seem to get along as friends, despite their past.
“Grab the Sun” screened at Japan Filmfest Hamburg
However, things are not as smooth as they initial seem. Takuma also deals drugs on the side, and has a couple of friends they all smoke drugs together, one of which...
- 5/13/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The collaboration between Eiji Uchida and Third Window Films has proved quite fruitful, being in the process of even creating a specific style, which begun with “Lowlife Love” and continues with “Love and Other Cults”.
Ai is a girl who seems to get no break in her miserable life. Her father is nowhere to be found, and her mother is a religion fanatic, although not with a specific one, but with the concept of joining different cults constantly. Not interested in her daughter even a bit, she unburdens her into the hands of her latest cult. The girl manages to find some semblance of peace in that community, but this sentiment is shattered when the leader of the cult, a westerner named Lavi is arrested and the cult disbanded. Ai finds herself in school, where she does seem to fit a bit, although not for long Her odyssey to find someone to love her,...
Ai is a girl who seems to get no break in her miserable life. Her father is nowhere to be found, and her mother is a religion fanatic, although not with a specific one, but with the concept of joining different cults constantly. Not interested in her daughter even a bit, she unburdens her into the hands of her latest cult. The girl manages to find some semblance of peace in that community, but this sentiment is shattered when the leader of the cult, a westerner named Lavi is arrested and the cult disbanded. Ai finds herself in school, where she does seem to fit a bit, although not for long Her odyssey to find someone to love her,...
- 5/5/2017
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.