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Japan Touring Film Programme in U.K. in February and March Includes Lonely Castle in the Mirror
posted on by Andrew Osmond
As of writing, there are screenings scheduled at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre on February 3; Brewery Arts (Kendal) on February 10; QUAD (Derby) on February 11; ICA (London) on February 11; Queen's Film Theatre (Belfast) on February 17; Eden Court (Inverness) on February 29; The Dukes (Lancaster) on March 6; Dundee Contemporary Art on March 9; Broadway (Nottingham) on March 16; Howard Theatre in Downing College (Cambridge) on March 24; and Storyhouse (Chester) on March 30.
The film's story is described as follows:
"Kokoro (voiced by Ami Toma) is a middle school student who confines herself within her room after losing her place at school due to bullying. One day, she notices her room's mirror start to glow, transporting her to a mysterious castle. There, she encounters six other children of a similar age, all of whom are facing struggles in their lives. In the castle, a mysterious girl wearing a wolf mask known as Okami-sama offers them a task: locate a hidden key within the castle, and she will grant any wish. Will the children succeed? What secrets lie hidden in their hearts? As the mysteries unravel, they are in for a miraculous revelation."
Hara (Colorful, Miss Hokusai, The Wonderland) directed the film at A-1 Pictures. Miho Maruo, who wrote the script for Hara's Miss Hokusai and The Wonderland films, penned the script. Keigo Sasaki (Blue Exorcist, ERASED, The Seven Deadly Sins) designed the characters, and was also the chief animation director. Russian artist Ilya Kuvshinov, who drew the character designs for The Wonderland, was credited for visual concept and castle design. Harumi Fuuki, who has composed the music for Hara's prior films, returned for this new film. Shochiku is distributing the film.
The Japan Academy Film Prize Association for excellence in film nominated the film for Animation of the Year in the 46th annual awards.
Tsujimura (Anime Supremacy! novel, writer for Naoshi Arakawa's A School Frozen in Time manga) released the original novel in Japan in 2017. It won the 2018 Japan Booksellers' Award, topped Da Vinci magazine's Book of the Year list in 2017, and won the grand prize in the King's Brunch Book Prize 2017. Erewhon released a hardcover English edition of the novel on October 18.
The Japan Touring Film Programme will also include the live-action film version of Undercurrent, a manga by Tetsuya Toyoda. The details of the venues and screenings will be given here. It is described on the Japan Foundation website:
"Kanae (Yoko Maki) struggles to manage her family's bathhouse after her husband, Satoru (Eita Nagayama), suddenly vanishes. She is often possessed by his memories, as well as memories from her childhood that she cannot recall. One day, Takayuki Hori (Arata Iura), a boiler man, comes seeking work and shelter, which Kanae agrees to offer. In her quest to find her missing husband, Kanae hires the eccentric private detective Yamasaki (Lily Franky). As Kanae delves into Satoru's disappearance, her buried childhood memories resurface again, revealing hidden truths about herself, her husband, and Hori's true motives...
"Based on the legendary manga Undercurrent by Tetsuya Toyoda, which received enthusiastic acclaim both in Japan and abroad upon its release in 2005, distinguished filmmaker Rikiya Imaizumi (Little Nights, Little Love and His) skilfully portrays the emotions that have long been locked away in people's hearts. The music is composed by Haruomi Hosono, who received the top award at the Cannes Film Festival for his work on Shoplifters (2018)."
As of writing, there are screenings scheduled at the ICA (London) on February 3 at 5.30 p.m.; Chichester Cinema at New Park on February 19 at 5 p.m.; Cinema City (Norwich) on March 11; Phoenix Leicester on March 17; Midlands Arts Centre (Birmingham) on March 23; Cameo (Edinburgh) on March 27; Picturehouse @ FACT (Liverpool) on March 28.
