Potechi (ポテチ)

Today I will introduce Nakamura’s film, Potechi(ポテチ). It is based on the comedy novel by the writer, Kotaro Isaka, the same as the film “The Foreign Duck, The Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker” and “Golden Slumbers” which I introduced before.
 
STORY
Imamura’s work was a cat burglar. One day he heard the call of the answering machine in the house where was stealing from. The woman who called said that she was going to commit suicide soon. The thief was a good-natured person wanted to help her, so he did. The next job was in Ozaki’s house. Ozaki and Imamura were born at the same hospital on the same day. Imamura heard the call of the answering machine there again. It was a message from another woman for help from Ozaki. Imamura went to help her again.

IMPRESSIONS
At first, the story that a person might have an occupation as a cat burglar, seemed to be very strange. Why did the young good-natured person work as a cat burglar? The scene of him relaxing in the house of the victims was a comedy. However, the story advanced in unexpected directions. A quiet comedy turned into a heartwarming story.To watch the story of a cat burglar who is a good-natured person makes us laugh and be impressed. Please check it out!

The Foreign Duck, The Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker (アヒルと鴨のコインロッカー)

Today I will introduce Nakamura’s film, The Foreign Duck, The Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker(ｱﾋﾙと鴨のｺｲﾝﾛｯｶｰ). It is based on the youth mystery novel by the writer, Kotaro Isaka, the same as the film “Golden Slumbers” which I introduced before.

STORY
Shiina, who came to Sendai to enter university, was approached about a strange plan by Kawasaki who is a neighbor. Kawasaki told Shiina to try to rob a bookstore to steal “Kojien” and let's give it the foreign student Dorji who was living in the same apartment. Shiina was not able to refuse it, and he helped rob the bookstore. However, between Kawasaki, Dorji and Dorji’s girlfriend on the back of this plan, there was a story of Kawasaki’s former girlfriend.

IMPRESSIONS
At first, it was difficult to understand the story. However, the story gets easier to understand as it progresses. The ending was shocking. At beginning, you will think that the story has a slow tempo. However, you will imperceptibly not think so. When I finished watching the movie, I felt it was painful. I thought that it is similar to “Golden Slumbers”, because the acting of the actors who played Shiina and Kwasaki was very good. I was drawn into their world. Please check it out!
 

Initiation Love (イニシエーション・ラブ)

Today I will introduce Kurumi Inui’s novel, Initiation Love (イニシエーション・ラブ). This novel was released in 2014 and it was filmed this year. This novel is a love story, but it is said to be a mystery novel, too.

STORY

Takkun meets Mayu in a group dating event. And they fall in love. At first, it is superficial and painful youth love story, it's transformed into a different kind of story! After you have finished reading it, you will think you want to read again!

IMPRESSIONS
I was very shocked when I finished reading it. I was exciting that everything was connected like a puzzle. I recommend reading it as an ordinary love story. But even if you notice the device, you will feel like reading it again.

I have not seen the movie of this novel yet. I think the it is a story which can only be drawn by a novel. It will be very interesting to see so how the movie is made.
Please check it out!

The Girls (少女)

Today I will introduce my favorite novelist, Kanae Minato’s novel, Girls. Kanae Minato’s masterpiece is "The Confession". This novel was made into a film in 2010 and was chosen for a Japanese Academy Award. It is a very famous novel.  Most of Kanae Minato’s novels have been made into films.

STORY
The transfer student said that she had witnessed the suicide of a close friend. Yuki felt the confession like a pride. She wanted to see the moment when a person died, but not the body. Atsuko, who had thought about suicide, thought that she could talk about death if she looked at the body and could get used to being strong. Yuki went to the pediatric ward and Atsuko went to the nursing home to see death. Do the two high school students see the moment of death?

IMPRESSIONS

This novel is easy to read. I think that even people who do not like reading books can read it. All characters in this novel are related to the two girls. They have big problems. This novel’s charm is the change in feeling of the two girls as the story progresses. Everything connects at last, I was drawn into this story. I was very shocked at the moment when the outcome was revealed. Please check it out!

The Snow White Murder Case (白ゆき姫殺人事件)

Do know “The Snow White Murder”? In the famous Grimm’s Fairy Tale, a poisonous apple is fed to Snow White, causing her to sleep, but she wakes up with the kiss of a prince. Today I will introduce Nakamura’s movie the “The Snow White Murder”, where the woman does not wake up with the kiss of the prince. And she has a really bad personality.

This movie is a mystery suspense movie, and my favorite novelist, Kanae Minato, wrote the story this movie is based on.

STORY
Noriko Miki, who worked in a cosmetic company, was found dead. She had been stabbed and burned and left in a park. Yuzi Akahoshi who was a news director, got this murder case information from his friend and he tweeted the information on Twitter. That tweet attracted a great deal of attention. Akahoshi suspected a colleague at work, Miki Shirono. She had a grudge against Noriko and she has been missing since the night of the murder. Because Miki had a reputation as a beautiful woman, this murder case  was called "The Snow White Murder" by the cosmetics company's famous goods. Is she the criminal who comitaled "The Snow White Murder"?

IMPRESSIONS
Most movie goers felt that this work shows the fear of the network society. The words that someone mutters casually on Twitter rapidly spreading, and become a rumor and are twisted more. It is so about the news. It comes out to an audience as if what was reported is totally all true. We do not know what to believe.

Most of the women in the movie made false remarks for publicity. A close college friend pretended to protect Miki, said that it is not even. I felt fear of jealousy between women in this movie. Until the end, I did not know who the culprit was. It was great.

If you see the notice in the bottom, I would probably like to see this movie! Please check it out!

Prophecy (予告犯)

Today I will introduce Yoshihiro Nakamura's new movie, Prophecy (予告犯). This movie was released this year. It is a suspense action comiced written and illustrated by Tetsuya Tsutsui. It was also broadcast as a TV drama. The main character is my favorite actor, Toma Ikuta! And Ryohei Suzuki, Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Masataka Kubota, who are all popular actors, appeused in it too. Gaku Hamada, who appeared in Golden Slumber, appeared in this movie too.

STORY

Suddenly, a man wearing a hood of newspaper introduces himself as "NEWSPAPER" on the Internet. He discloses the people who have committed the sins that are not punishable by law. And he sanctions the crime in his own way. Erika Toda as Yoshino, who investigates Internet crime, follows the activites of this mysterious criminal. She notices that there are more than one crime, not a single-handed crime. They leave the mysterious name as “Nelson Cato Rikarute” for a notice site. At last they reveal a political killing, so their activities develop into a social phenomenon. What is their motive? And can Yoshino catch them?

IMPRESSIONS

The scene where Toma Ikuta as Geistu escapes from Erika Toda as Yoshino is very realistic. I was surprised to hear the scene was done in one take. And I was impressed with "their purpose". I could sympathize because this movie was drawn from modern society.

This movie deal with the problems of modern society, fear of the Internet and conflict with of the other countries, it is not a crime story.

If you see the notice in the bottom, I would probably like to see this movie! Please check it out!