■“We, who are desperately trying to live, throw dirt, sweat, and bodies at each other, and it makes us both cry and laugh.” (Takumi Kitamura)
The movie “Bad Summer” starring Takumi Kitamura will be released nationwide on March 20, 2025. At the same time, a teaser visual and super special video were also released.
The original work is Tamehito Somei’s debut work “Bad Summer”, which won the Excellence Award at the 37th Yokomizo Seishi Mystery Awards. The story depicts Sasaki, a civil servant working at the city hall who was working diligently, but suddenly becomes involved in outrageous criminal acts. A single mother on the verge of abandoning her child, a civil servant who blackmails his girlfriend into sexual relations with him, a resident of the underworld, a drug dealer who fraudulently receives welfare benefits, etc., have attracted attention as “only scum and baddies come out,” and the cumulative total is 180,000 yen. It is a masterpiece novel that sells more than one copy.
The director is Hideo Shirosada, a genius who has created many masterpieces, starring talented and popular actors such as Kei Tanaka, Hayato Isomura, and Yuki Yamada. The script was written by Toshihide Mukai Kosuke, who won the Japan Academy Award for Best Screenplay for “A Certain Man.” A shocking suspense entertainment was born from the miraculous chemical reaction between a villainous novel about addicts and the standard-bearers of the Japanese film industry.
■Takumi Kitamura becomes a corrupt civil servant
The main character, Sasaki, will be played in the NHK drama series “Anpan”, which has been a hit in movies and dramas such as the “Tokyo Revengers” series and the Netflix series “Yu Yu Hakusho”, and is scheduled to be broadcast from spring 2025. Takumi Kitamura will appear. He plays a civil servant who lives an honest life but gets involved in crime due to his timid personality.
Kitamura, who will be appearing in a film directed by Josada for the first time, revealed that he was eager to appear in the film, saying, “I had always wanted to work with director Josada someday.” After watching the movie, I realized once again how lucky I was to be able to make this come true.” “It’s not a kind movie, nor is it a dark movie at all.It’s a movie where we, desperately trying to survive, throw dirt, sweat, and bodies at each other, and it makes me cry and make me laugh.”
■Teaser visual & super special news released
Also released is an impressive teaser visual of Sasaki holding a knife in one hand and looking straight ahead, with a glimpse of darkness deep in his eyes, in contrast to the vividly colored vinyl pool.
In addition, an intense special report featuring Sasaki’s monologue has been released. At the counter of the government office where he works, Sasaki, with a dark expression on his face, is shown exploding with frustration and anger. The final scene concludes with Sasaki’s close-up and the question, “Then, what should I have done?”, making the film an intriguing image of the story’s descent into ruin.
“Bad Summer” is a suspense entertainment that depicts the downfall of a timid public servant who lives an honest life and the fear that exists in the moment, and will be released nationwide on March 20, 2025.
■Takumi Kitamura comment
I had always wanted to work with director Josada someday. After watching the movie, I realized once again how glad I was to be able to achieve that goal with “Bad Summer”. We were just bad that summer. It just wasn’t good. I couldn’t live well. I would be happy if you could laugh at us like that. It’s not a kind movie, nor is it a dark movie. We, who are just trying to survive, throw dirt, sweat, and bodies at each other, and it makes me cry and sometimes it makes me laugh. We look forward to seeing it on screen.
Movie information
“Bad Summer”
Nationwide release on Thursday, March 20, 2025 (holiday)
Cast: Takumi Kitamura
Director: Hideo Shirosada
Screenplay: Kosuke Mukai
Original work: Tamehito Somei “Bad Summer” (Kadokawa Bunko/KADOKAWA)
Distribution: Clockworks
(C)2025 Movie “Bad Summer” Production Committee
Work site
https://waruinatsumovie.com/