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#Manhole

Berlinale Special 2023
2023 Gaga Corporation/J Storm Inc.
Kawamura is a promising young man with a great job and a fiancée whose father owns the company. All is well in the best of worlds. But after a few celebratory drinks on the night before his wedding, he falls into a deep manhole. Trapped and horrified by incidents piling up one on top of the other, he becomes desperate to escape and uses his only reliable tool, a Smartphone, to call the police and friends, and appeal to the anonymous social networking crowd. The clock ticks mercilessly as morning approaches. Will the groom make it to the altar and live happily ever after?
Director Kazuyoshi Kumakiri’s enthusiasm for the many twists and turns of his clever thriller is palpable and infectious. His use of the confined space of the manhole is deft, as is the way in which he picks up the pace of the narration. The role of the young man in distress is embodied by multitalented idol Yuto Nakajima who, on top of his stellar success as a singer, model and television actor, proves to be utterly convincing as a hero who harbours a secret or two. Moreover, thanks to his own efficient use of the hashtag “Manhole”, the performer’s alter ego Kawamura has become almost as popular as the actor himself.
by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri
with Yuto Nakajima, Nao, Kento Nagayama Japan 2023 Japanese 99’ Colour

With

  • Yuto Nakajima (Shunsuke Kawamura)
  • Nao (Mai Kudo)
  • Kento Nagayama (Etsuro Kase)

Crew

Director Kazuyoshi Kumakiri
Written by Michitaka Okada
Cinematography Yuta Tsukinaga
Editing Daisuke Imai
Music Takuma Watanabe
Sound Noriyoshi Yoshida
Production Design Norifumi Ataka
Costumes Mari Miyamoto
Make-Up Michiru Iwamoto
Casting Hiroyuki Harada
Assistant Director Atsushi Unno
Production Manager Ryusuke Yatsushiro
Producers Tsuyoshi Matsushita, Hideki Hoshino
Executive Producers Tom Yoda, Julie K. Fujishima, Satomi Odake

World sales

Gaga Corporation

https://www.gaga.co.jp/ https://www.gaga.co.jp/

Produced by

Gaga Corporation

https://www.gaga.co.jp/ https://www.gaga.co.jp/

J Storm

Photos

Press Conference

Red Carpet

Kazuyoshi Kumakiri

© 2023 Gaga Corporation/J Storm Inc.

Born in Hokkaido, Japan in 1974, he studied at the Osaka University of Arts. His graduation film Banquet of the Beasts premiered in the Berlinale Panorama section. Sketches of Kaitan City won the Lino Brocka Grand Prize as well as the Best Actor Award at the Cinemanila International Film Festival and the Jury Prize at the Deauville Asian Film Festival. My Man was awarded the Golden St. George and the Best Actor Award at the Moscow International Film Festival.

Filmography

1998 Kichiku Dai Enkai (Banquet of the Beasts) 2001 Sora No Ana (Hole in the Sky) 2004 Antenna 2006 Seishun Kinzoku Bat (Green Mind, Metal Bats) 2007 Freesia (Freesia – Bullet over Tears) 2008 Nonko 36 Sai (Kaji Tetsudai) (Non-ko) 2010 Majutsu (Magic); short film · Tsuruzonoke no memai; short film · Kaitanshi Jokei (Sketches of Kaitan City) 2012 Bakugyaku Kazoku Bakugyaku Famiria (Blazing Famiglia) 2013 Yamanai hare; short film · Natsu No Owari (Summer’s End) 2014 Hikari No Neiro – The Back Horn Film (Timbre of Lights – The Back Horn Film) · Watashi No Otoko (My Man) 2016 Dias Police: Dirty Yellow Boys 2017 Mukoku 2023 658 km, Yoko No Tabi · #Manhole

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023