Tuesday, June 20, 2017, 18:45 - 21:30
A lover, a liar, a lothario - and the women who simply can't resist him
Sneak Preview Screening: "Marriage (Kekkon)" followed by a Q&A
with director Shinichi Nishitani and star Dean Fujioka
Tuesday, June 20 at 6:45 pm*
*Please note early start time.
In Japanese with English subtitles
Japan, 2017 118 minutes
Director: Shinichi Nishitani
Writer: Masaya Ozaki, based on the novel Areno Inoue
Producers: Shigeo Minakami, Hidehisa Chiwata, Hiroyuki Araki
Starring:
Dean Fujioka, Shuko, Eriko Nakamura, Wakana Matsumoto,
Tamae Ando, Kanji Furutachi, Hisako Manda, Shihori Kanjiya
Film courtesy of Kadokawa
Who doesn't secretly love reading about successful cons - especially when the human heart is involved? We soak up the details of the latest romance scam, online dating fraud or even black widow killer with a mixture of disbelief and grudging admiration, mingled with sympathy and a sense of relief: thank goodness I would never fall for such a swindle.
Shinichi Nishitani's "Marriage," the long-awaited adaptation of the bestselling novel by Areno Inoue, wants us to consider the roots of the marriage hustler, and he cleverly casts the swooningly handsome Dean Fujioka as the conman with a dark secret in his past. He's not a hero, far from it - he separates his victims from their savings accounts, after all - but he's also not quite a villain, not even in their eyes.
Kenji Urumi (Fujioka) is perpetually polished and conscience-free, and he doesn't mind sharing his confidence schemes with us. Happily married to Hatsune (Shihori Kanjiya), he just happens to make his living from marriage scams, slipping in and out of whatever skin suits his latest conquest. For avid reader Asami (Eriko Nakamura), he is a popular web novelist with 500,000 readers; for classy magazine editor Mana (Wakana Matsumoto), he is a budding restaurateur who can also tickle the piano keys with just the right seductive pizzazz; for Hatoko (Tamae Ando), who stamps the marriage license applications at a city office, he is a suave wine connoisseur.
Ruriko (Shuko) is Kenji's partner in crime, a former target who realizes she can keep him close only by sharing in the spoils of his misadventures, and provides him with a "never-ending supply" of lonely hearts in need of love. And then one day, he meets his match in Yasue (Hisako Manda), who digs into his past and reveals the ugly truth.
As always, Kanji Furutachi ("Hospitalité," "Harumonium") threatens to steal the film, as a sympathetic private detective with a chic office and marvelous sweaters.
Please join us for this sneak preview of "Marriage" ahead of its Japanese release on June 24.
For more (in Japanese): kekkon-movie.jp
Director SHINICHI NISHITANI has directed four features, including "Flower" (2003), "Blue Sky Roulette" (2007) and "Shibuya" (2010). For NHK, he has helmed several TV films and over a dozen series, including hits "The Final Gift" (2004), "Recipe of 49 Days" (2011), "Yoshiwara Uradoshin" (2014), "Bustle Town, Quiet Ocean" (2016, starring Dean Fujioka) and "Here Comes Asa" (2016).
Actor-musician DEAN FUJIOKA is Japan's most popular multilingual performer. He launched his acting career in Hong Kong and Taiwan, earning an Asia-wide following. He made his film debut in Yan Yan Mak's "August Story" (2006) and starred in "Summer's Tail" (2007), "Miss No Good" (2008) and "Breeze of July" (2008), before returning to Japan to direct and star in "I Am Ichihashi: Journal of a Murderer" (2012). He also headlined "Ninja the Monster" (2016), and will be seen later this year in "Fullmetal Alchemist." Fujioka is also active on television and as a recording star.
Please make your reservations at the FCCJ Reception Desk (3211-3161) or register below. You may attend the Q&A session without attending the screening, but you will not have seating priority. Please reserve in advance, still & TV cameras inclusive. All film screenings are private, noncommercial events primarily for FCCJ members and their guests.
- Karen Severns, Film Committee
