River (film)
Encyclopedia
is a 2011 Japanese drama film
based on the 2008 Akihabara massacre
incident. The film is written and directed by Ryūichi Hiroki
. The film stars actress Misako Renbutsu
, who will play the role of a person who lost her love interest in the attacks.
River will debut at the 12th Tokyo Filmex
as one of its special presentations. It will subsequently be released in Japanese cinemas on March 2012.
tragedy. During this incident, one man knocked down pedestrians with a truck and stabbed several people, leaving 7 people dead and 10 more injured. The film will be directed by Ryūichi Hiroki
, who had previously directed films like April Bride
(2009) and Kimi no Tomodachi (2008). Hiroki, whose hometown was devastated by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
, changed the script of the film to have a stronger focus on the areas affected by this disaster.
The lead character of the film is played by actress Misako Renbutsu
. Renbutsu had previously starred in the 2007 film Tenkōsei: Sayonara Anata. In addition, the film also stars Mami Nakamura
, Anta Odaka, Toshie Negishi
, Nahami, Tomorowo Taguchi
, Tokio Emoto, Yukichi Kobayashi and Yuto Kobayashi.
. This song was originally used in the 1961 American film Breakfast at Tiffany's, which starred actress Audrey Hepburn
. This song was used because it "reflects the atmosphere of Kanda River
".
as one of the festival's screening. This festival will open on 19 November 2011. The film will subsequently be released in Japanese cinemas in March 2012.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
based on the 2008 Akihabara massacre
Akihabara massacre
The was an incident of mass murder that took place on Sunday, June 8, 2008, in the Akihabara shopping quarter for electronics, video games and comics in Sotokanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan.At 12:33 p.m...
incident. The film is written and directed by Ryūichi Hiroki
Ryuichi Hiroki
is a Japanese artist, film director, and film editor.-Biography:Ryūichi Hiroki is now one of the most prolific film directors in Japan. He is a pioneer in using digital video to shoot theatrical films in Japan...
. The film stars actress Misako Renbutsu
Misako Renbutsu
is an actress in Japan. She has won the Grand Prix award at the Super Heroine Audition Miss Phoenix in 2005.-Dramas: - as Rieko Ishikawa - as Nanase Hida - as Hidemi Furusawa - as Yamamoto Tamiko...
, who will play the role of a person who lost her love interest in the attacks.
River will debut at the 12th Tokyo Filmex
Tokyo Filmex
Tokyo Filmex is an annual film festival established in 2000. This film festival was launched by Office Kitano, which is Takeshi Kitano's film company.For now, Office Kitano remains as one of the main partners for Tokyo Filmex....
as one of its special presentations. It will subsequently be released in Japanese cinemas on March 2012.
Plot
Hikari's boyfriend is one of those killed in the Akihabara massacre incident. Suffering from the shock of her loss and unable to accept this reality, she cuts herself off from the outside world. She eventually manages to muster enough courage to visit Akihabara, the scene of the incident. There, she encounters many people who are still coming to terms with the aftermath of the incident and are still suffering from the aftereffects.Cast
- Misako RenbutsuMisako Renbutsuis an actress in Japan. She has won the Grand Prix award at the Super Heroine Audition Miss Phoenix in 2005.-Dramas: - as Rieko Ishikawa - as Nanase Hida - as Hidemi Furusawa - as Yamamoto Tamiko...
as Hikari, a women whose boyfriend was a victim in the attacks. - Mami NakamuraMami Nakamurais a Japanese actress. She married the actor and martial artist Mitsuki Koga in August, 2004 and was divorced in January, 2007.-Filmography:*Tomie *The Mars Canon *river *Blood and Bones *Jukai *World's end girl friend...
as a female photographer. - Anta Odaka
- Toshie NegishiToshie Negishi-External links:...
- Nahami as an employee of a maid cafeMaid cafeMaid cafés are a subcategory of cosplay restaurants found predominantly in Japan. In these cafés, waitresses dressed in maid costumes act as servants, and treat customers as masters in a private home, rather than as café patrons...
. - Tomorowo TaguchiTomorowo Taguchiis a Japanese actor.After leaving Dokkyo University without graduating, he started to earn his living as an illustrator, writer and pornographic cartoonist. He joined a theatre called Hakken no Kai in 1978 and he made a screen debut in Zokubutsu Zukan in 1982...
as a scout for a maid cafe. - Tokio Emoto
- Yukichi Kobayashi
- Yuto Kobayashi
Development
River was officially revealed on 18 October 2011. The film is the first film to be based on the 2008 Akihabara massacreAkihabara massacre
The was an incident of mass murder that took place on Sunday, June 8, 2008, in the Akihabara shopping quarter for electronics, video games and comics in Sotokanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan.At 12:33 p.m...
tragedy. During this incident, one man knocked down pedestrians with a truck and stabbed several people, leaving 7 people dead and 10 more injured. The film will be directed by Ryūichi Hiroki
Ryuichi Hiroki
is a Japanese artist, film director, and film editor.-Biography:Ryūichi Hiroki is now one of the most prolific film directors in Japan. He is a pioneer in using digital video to shoot theatrical films in Japan...
, who had previously directed films like April Bride
April Bride
is a 2009 Japanese film directed by Ryuichi Hiroki.- Cast :* Nana Eikura: Chie Nagashima* Eita: Taro Akasu* Satomi Tezuka* Misako Yasuda* Akira Emoto- Notes :...
(2009) and Kimi no Tomodachi (2008). Hiroki, whose hometown was devastated by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
, changed the script of the film to have a stronger focus on the areas affected by this disaster.
The lead character of the film is played by actress Misako Renbutsu
Misako Renbutsu
is an actress in Japan. She has won the Grand Prix award at the Super Heroine Audition Miss Phoenix in 2005.-Dramas: - as Rieko Ishikawa - as Nanase Hida - as Hidemi Furusawa - as Yamamoto Tamiko...
. Renbutsu had previously starred in the 2007 film Tenkōsei: Sayonara Anata. In addition, the film also stars Mami Nakamura
Mami Nakamura
is a Japanese actress. She married the actor and martial artist Mitsuki Koga in August, 2004 and was divorced in January, 2007.-Filmography:*Tomie *The Mars Canon *river *Blood and Bones *Jukai *World's end girl friend...
, Anta Odaka, Toshie Negishi
Toshie Negishi
-External links:...
, Nahami, Tomorowo Taguchi
Tomorowo Taguchi
is a Japanese actor.After leaving Dokkyo University without graduating, he started to earn his living as an illustrator, writer and pornographic cartoonist. He joined a theatre called Hakken no Kai in 1978 and he made a screen debut in Zokubutsu Zukan in 1982...
, Tokio Emoto, Yukichi Kobayashi and Yuto Kobayashi.
Theme song
The theme song for the film River is the song Moon RiverMoon River
"Moon River" is a song composed by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini in 1961, for whom it won that year's Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was originally sung in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's by Audrey Hepburn, although it has been covered by many other artists...
. This song was originally used in the 1961 American film Breakfast at Tiffany's, which starred actress Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn was a British actress and humanitarian. Although modest about her acting ability, Hepburn remains one of the world's most famous actresses of all time, remembered as a film and fashion icon of the twentieth century...
. This song was used because it "reflects the atmosphere of Kanda River
Kanda River
The stretches 24.6 km from Inokashira Park in Mitaka to the Sumida River under the Ryōgoku Bridge at the boundary of Taitō, Chūō, and Sumida. Its entire length lies within Tokyo, Japan. It drains an area of 105.0 km². The government of Japan classifies it as a Class I river.-Tributaries...
".
Release
River will make its debut at the 12th Tokyo FilmexTokyo Filmex
Tokyo Filmex is an annual film festival established in 2000. This film festival was launched by Office Kitano, which is Takeshi Kitano's film company.For now, Office Kitano remains as one of the main partners for Tokyo Filmex....
as one of the festival's screening. This festival will open on 19 November 2011. The film will subsequently be released in Japanese cinemas in March 2012.