Directed by:
Urara MatsubayashiScreenplay:
Minami GotōCinematography:
石井勲Composer:
Yūji WatanabeCast:
Mayu Yamaguchi, Asuka Kawatoko, 北村優衣, Yuzumi Shintani, Yoshihiko Hosoda, Iana Bernardez, ステファニー・アリアン, Urara Matsubayashi, Nanami Hidaka, Yuta Hayashi, 松浦祐也 (more)Plots(1)
In the wake of a sexual assault, young actress Noel goes to Blue Imagine, a refuge for people who have experienced violence. With the help of her fellow residents, she is able to reclaim some of her confidence, and decides to confront her abuser. In her directorial debut, actress Matsubayashi Urara takes bold and considered aim at the permeating sexual violence of the Japanese film industry. Blue Imagine skilfully addresses some of the many mental and emotional nuances of the aftermath of abuse while employing a peculiar mixture of subtle, slightly dark humour. Matsubayashi is neither exploitative, nor trivial in her approach, and is ever cautious not to fall for the pitfalls of an easy ‘girl power’ narrative seen in many cinematic studies into the subject. With its eye fixed on support networks rather than vengeance, Blue Imagine offers an urgent and gutsy exploration, encouraging venues of kindness and camaraderie through subtle acts of re-appropriation – a gesture much needed these days, in the arena of film as everywhere. (International Film Festival Rotterdam)
(more)Cast
Mayu Yamaguchi
Japan
Asuka Kawatoko
Japan
北村優衣
Japan
Best movies:
Yuzumi Shintani
Japan
Yoshihiko Hosoda
Japan
Best movies:
I Give My First Love to You (2009)
Prophecy (2015)
Detroit Metal City (2008)
Iana Bernardez
Philippines
Urara Matsubayashi
Japan
Nanami Hidaka
Japan
Best movies:
Tag (2015)
Yuta Hayashi
Japan
松浦祐也
Best movies:
Shinsuke Katô
Japan
Best movies:
Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle (2021)
A Man (2022)
Samurai Marathon (2019)
Makoto Shinada
Japan
武内おと
Japan
Shuna Iijima
Japan
渡辺紘文
Japan
Best movies:
Poolside Man (2016)
Coco
Japan