■What is the “once in a lifetime decision” that the two will reach after revealing everything?
The film “Pride and Goodness,” starring Fujigaya Taisuke (Kis-My-Ft2) and Nao, will be released in cinemas nationwide from September 27th.
The protagonists, Ka and Mami, meet through a dating app and get engaged, but Mami suddenly disappears. While searching for her,
The film “Pride and Goodness” is a moving romantic mystery based on the novel of the same name by Tsujimura Mizuki, which became a hot topic as the best-selling novel of 2023.
Tsujimura commented, “I was very surprised when I saw the finished film. I was moved by how well the director was able to understand these characters and touch their hearts, and I am filled with great gratitude.” She gives the film her stamp of approval, skillfully expressing the pain and desperation of the protagonists that lies at the heart of the story.
■ The charming characters in this work bring out realistic views on love and values
Now, stills have been released of the fascinating characters featured in the film, which highlights realistic views on love and values.
Nishizawa Kaori, played by Fujigaya, is a sociable man with many friends, and is doing well in both his work and love life. One day, after being dumped by his longtime girlfriend, he starts using a dating app. He meets Makoto there and starts dating her, but even after a year has passed, he is still arrogant and can’t decide on his future. While searching for Makoto’s whereabouts after her sudden disappearance, Kaori is forced to face her “past and lies” that he didn’t want to know about.
Nao’s fiance Sakaba Mami is a clerk at an English conversation school. She has a modest personality and has lived a good life on the rails laid out by her parents, such as letting others decide her career path and marriage partner. She meets Ka on a dating app and receives a proposal, but he suddenly disappears. A certain action that she bets her life on will greatly affect Ka.
Furthermore, a stellar cast of actors will be playing important characters who also appear in the original work. Kotaro Takahashi (Yuki Kura), who Makoto meets, is the leader of the disaster volunteers.
Minako (Sakuraba Nanami) is an old friend of Ka. She is a “winner” who has lived a smart life. She is outspoken, and when Ka introduces her to Maki, she makes a remark that seems to compare her to her ex-girlfriend. On the night Maki was attacked by a stalker, she was also at a drinking party with Ka and the others.
Nozomi Iwama (Akiko Kikuchi), Makoto’s older sister, is the type of person who decides her own path. Although she understands Makoto, she also criticizes Makoto for only listening to what her parents tell her, and she suspects that Makoto has disappeared because she ran off with another man.
Onozato (Maeda Minami) is the director of a marriage consultation office near Makoto’s family home. At the request of Makoto’s mother, she introduces Makoto to a matchmaking partner. When Kaori asks about Makoto’s disappearance, she gives her words that get to the heart of the matter.
■The director gives high praise to the co-stars!
Director Hagiwara commented as follows about the ideal casting of Fujigaya and Nao, who were huge fans of the original work and were eager to see it adapted into a film:
“I felt that I had something in common with Fujigaya-san, who, despite being a star, always treats everyone equally. That kindness that is at the core of Fujigaya-san always exuded on set, and I grew to like Ka more and more. Nao-san portrayed the background of the character Maki with boundless depth and breadth of imagination. Every time I saw Maki’s appearance, which was different from what I had imagined before filming, I realized that she was a woman who was even more attractive than I had imagined.”
Fujigaya, who skillfully played a stylish yet somewhat naive man, and Nao, who played Makoto, whose expressions change as the story progresses, were highly praised for their expressiveness. The cast, who are filled with love for the original work, took on the film “Pride and Goodness” with extraordinary passion, so keep an eye out.
Movie Information
“Pride and Kindness”
Nationwide release on Friday, September 27th
Cast: Taisuke Fujigaya and Nao
Yuki Kura Nanami Sakuraba / Kenji Anan Yoshiko Miyazaki
Naomi Nishida Minami Maeda
Original work: “Pride and Kindness” by Mizuki Tsujimura (published by Asahi Bunko/Asahi Shimbun Publications)
Director: Kentaro Hagiwara
Screenplay: Yukako Shimizu
Music: Hisataka Kato
Theme song: Natori “Thread Telephone” (Sony Music Records)
Distribution and Promotion: Asmik Ace
(C)2024 “Pride and Goodness” Film Production Committee
Official website of the movie “Pride and Goodness”
https://gomantozenryo.asmik-ace.co.jp
