NIKKATSU @ Marché du Film

Before We Vanish
(Representing only Asia)
Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Starring: Masami Nagasawa, Ryuhei Matsuda, Hiroki Hasegawa

★Official Screening★
21st May 11:00~ @ Debussy   
21st May 16:30~ @ Debussy
★Repeat Screening★
22nd May 17:00~ @ Bazin

Don’t let them into your head

STORY:
After going missing for several days, a man named Shinji (Ryuhei Matsuda) reappears, acting nothing like his former self. His relationship with his wife Narumi (Masami Nagasawa) had been on the rocks, but he is now much calmer and kinder than he ever was before, which only serves to exasperate her even further. Shinji also has a new daily routine of heading out for leisurely strolls around the neighborhood, but for what purpose?

Elsewhere in town, a family is brutally murdered, and other strange incidents begin occurring frequently. Journalist Sakurai (Hiroki Hasegawa) starts to investigate, and makes a startling discovery. An ominous mood spreads over the otherwise ordinary town, and events take unsettling turns.
Eventually, Shinji confronts Narumi with a shocking claim: that he is an advance scout for an invasion of Earth. Meanwhile, Sakurai becomes increasingly caught up in the spiraling chaos. Daily lives taken for granted are overturned in an instant. Unwitting actions have unimaginable consequences. What sights await these people, and what fate beckons humanity?

*Completed
For any inquiries outside of Asia, please contact Wild Bunch.
© 2017 "Before We Vanish" Film Partners

NIKKATSU Line-up

Her Sketchbook
Directed by Masaya Ozaki
Starring: Mugi Kadowaki

Smile, you're almost there.

STORY:
Mami rarely leaves home since she dropped out from middle school. She has been escaping reality by immersing herself in copying her favorite manga and illustrations in her room full of books and comics. Her father, Eisuke, worries a lot about her ever since he divorced with her mother, Mika.
One day, Eisuke finds Mami a part-time job as a video game tester to find and report bugs in the company’s products. She accepts, thinking she can stay isolated from other people, until her colleague, Ryotaro, finds out her talent for drawing pictures.

By getting involved with new people and society, Mami tries to step out into a new world, but after years of mimicking other people’s works, she is unable to create something of her own…

*Completed
*Screener link available
© QUAIL FILM

Birds Without Names
Directed by Kazuya Shiraishi
Starring: Yu Aoi, Sadawo Abe, Tori Matsuzaka

A pathetically loyal man loves a nasty woman with a pure yet unpleasant love.
She never knew what was behind his love.

STORY:
Towako lives with Jinji, a man fifteen years her senior. Dedicated to her in every way, Jinji cooks, does the chores, and works a grueling job in his bid to support Towako. On the other hand, Towako lies around all day, neither working nor cleaning. Worse, she scolds and berates the sweet-tempered Jinji remorselessly, and cheats on him without a second thought.

However, foremost on Towako’s mind is Kurosaki, an ex-boyfriend who brought her the only joy she ever knew. No longer able to resist her urges, Towako calls Kurosaki, but hangs up immediately. Soon after, Towako is visited by the police. It seems Kurosaki vanished five years ago under mysterious circumstances.

As Towako searches for answers, she begins to wonder what role Jinji might have played in Kurosaki’s disappearance, and if there might be something sinister at work beneath his ever-pleasant demeanor.

*Completed
*Trailer
*Screener link available
© 2017 "Birds Without Names" Film Partners

Death Row Family
Directed by Yuki Kobayashi
Starring: Shotaro Mamiya, Katsuya Maiguma

Brazen Yakuza Killers on a Spree of Robbery and Murder!

STORY:
Takanori, the son of a yakuza boss, is offered as a scapegoat to another syndicate and sent to jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Two years later, he is released from prison. After reuniting with his girlfriend, Takanori meets with his older brother Satoshi. He tells Takanori of his plan to rob the safe of the Yoshidas, a local family running a loan shark operation. Asked to join in the robbery, Takanori balks. “Worm out and your girl will pay with her life!” his brother threatens. With no option, Takanori agrees to take part in the theft.

Breaking into the Yoshidas’ home, they steal their safe. However, during the heist, they kill Shoji, the family’s youngest son. Afterward, Satoshi admits to Takanori that their parents were planning to steal it for themselves the next day. Worried they wouldn’t share in the haul, he thought to jump the gun and take it for himself. Now resigned to a life of crime, Takanori joins his family on their true-to-life tale into the black humor hell of unremitting crime and conscienceless murder!

*Completed
*Screener link available
©2017 "Death Row Family" Film Partners

Neko Ninja
Directed by Takeshi Watanabe
Starring: Takuro Ohno
 

The adventures of a failed ninja and a fat cat.

STORY:
Kagerota, a rogue ninja, is a wanted man as his clansman believes that he knows whereabouts of the scrolls which tells the mythical skills of warriors changing appearances to win battles. Kagerota is taking “Father,” an overweight, golden-haired and red-nosed cat in his bag. Kagerota believes the cat is the feline form of his long-disappeared and legendary ninja father Kuze Kenzan because of the same red nose as Kenzan’s.

Meanwhile, the Kiryu Clan, who is anxious to bring the scroll back, dispatches two female ninjas to nab Kagerota: Momiji who tries to get close to the man through her cover as a cleaner at the inn where he is staying; and Tsubame, Kagerota’s childhood friend, who has since risen to become one of the clan’s best ninjas.
Kagerota fights for making “Father” back to his human appearance and geting away from the thug ninjas…
 

*Completed
*Trailer
*Screener link available
© 2017 Neko Ninja Production Committee

Norman the Snowman (2 Episodes)
Directed by Takeshi Yashiro

STORY:
[Episode 1: The Northern Lights]

Finding your treasure.

On the first day of snow in the northern country, the boy sneaks out of his house and boards a northbound train to experience the beautiful mysteries of nature that his childhood friend "Norman the Snowman" has told him about.

2013 / Japan / 25min
*Completed
*Trailer
ⓒTAIYO KIKAKU co.,ltd／EXPJ,Ltd

[Episode 2: On a Night of Shooting Stars]

Seeking meteor shower.

Shooting Stars will reach the town tomorrow! Norman and the boy decide to embark on a venture again to see the beautiful stars. The chapter 2 of “Norman the Snowman” begins.

2016 / Japan / 27min
*Completed
*Trailer
*Screener link available
ⓒTAIYO KIKAKU co.,ltd／EXPJ,Ltd

Happiness
Directed by SABU 
Starring: Masatoshi Nagase, Erika Okuda 

What was your happiest moment in life?

STORY:

Kanzaki, a middle-aged man, goes to a quiet countryside village. He puts his helmet on a shrunken old woman whom he meets by chance in a shop. As soon as he presses the buttons on the helmet one by one, she suddenly remembers forgotten happy moments and is rejuvenated. This is just the beginning. Kanzaki goes on to make the village people recall their happy pasts, but his face is lined with worry and a sadness that deepens. What is the secret of this helmet? And what is he trying to do with it?

Director SABU’s Happiness suggests happiness and suffering are intertwined through the unusual scenario of a helmet reminding people of the happiest moments of their lives. Sabu convincingly portrays the notion that memory is the source of both happiness and suffering, and how memory affects our lives.

*Completed
*Trailer
*Screener link available
©2016 LiVEMAX FILM

Close-Knit
Directed by Naoko Ogigami
Starring : Toma lkuta, Kenta Kiritani

She was born as "He." 
We all can be different.

STORY:
One spring Hiromi, who is the mother of an 11-year-old girl Tomo, left home for the umpteenth time. Tomo is accustomed to such a mother and as always went to Makio's place. He is a brother of Hiromi and has lived with Rinko, a pretty girlfriend. Actually, Rinko is a transwoman. She works as a caregiver in a nursing home where Makio's mother Sayuri who suffers from dementia is living. Rinko makes a delicious meal and sometimes cuddles Tomo. She is a little confused, but Tomo, Rinko and Makio start to live a life together.

One day Rinko teaches Tomo to knit to control her temper. Rinko was also taught by her mother at the age of puberty when she struggled with her sexuality.
A daughter neglected by her mother. A gentle uncle and his transgender lover. An angsty boy who recognizes a sense of himself as a gay… A warm "knitting" reorganizes unconventional family.


*Completed
*Screener link available
©2017 "Close-Knit" Film Partners

RE:BORN
Directed by Yuji Shimomura
Starring: TAK∴ (a.k.a TAK SAKAGUCHI), Takumi Saitoh, Mariko Shinoda

If you want my blood… Come and get it!

STORY:
A special force unit of several members is found all dead during tactical exercise in the facility of National Defense Force. They were in the midst of exercising the irregular combat situation of one-man versus one unit named "Ghost Tactic"...

Toshiro, a small store clerk lives a quiet live with a young girl Sachi in the countryside of Ishikawa prefecture. Although his life is seemingly calm and peaceful, he sometimes struggles desperately to control his inner destructive impulse going on a rampage. One day, an enigmatic murder occurs in this small town. Later it turns out to be a warning from a mysterious man to Toshiro...

Toshiro used to belong to the special covert force best known possible, then had it destroyed with his own bear hands, leaving his former commanding officer Phantom unfinished. Now Phantom comes out of the shadow to execute the betrayer bringing along his most ruthless soldiers.

While Toshiro calmly takes care of those assassins sent out to kill him, he begins to get ready for close range combat even in the cruel way of deploying little Sachi as a decoy.

In the deepest minds of darkness and conflict, there are people who can only feel worthwhile when taking others’ lives. Based on the truth and real combat stories of professional covert assassins in your daily lives, it shows the destiny and practical battle scenes of those who chose the specific life for themselves.

*Completed
*Trailer
*Screener link available
©2016 "RE:BORN" Partners

HEADSHOT
(Representing only Asia)
The director of KILLERS and the stars from THE RAID and THE RAID 2.
Directed by The Mo Brothers (Timo Tjahjanto and Kimo Stamboel)
Starring: Iko Uwais, Julie Estelle

THEY SHOULD HAVE KILLED HIM.

Story:

A mysterious young man jolts awake after months in a coma, nursed back to health by young student-doctor Ailin after being discovered left for dead with a gunshot wound to the head. It’s a rebirth of sorts and, realizing that the man has lost his memory and identity, Ailin renames him Ishmael.
The two quickly grow closer, not realizing that behind their momentary peace lies danger. Soon their lives collide with a gang of dangerous criminals led by an enigmatic crimelord known simply as Lee.

As Ishmael begins to suspect that his true identity is closely tied to these criminals, Ailin is violently taken. Determined to save the woman who rescued him, Ishmael has no choice but to confront his past. But with every violent confrontation that Ishmael encounters his memory brings him closer to a dark truth as the lethal personality awakening within him starts to reveal who he really is.

*Completed
*Trailer
*Screener link available
©2016 PT. Satu Indonesia Film