■“It will be interesting to see how you understand the word and character “maru” and enjoy this work.” (Tsuyoshi Domoto)
The movie “Maru” starring Tsuyoshi Domoto and director/screenwriter Naoko Ogigami will be released in October. Along with this, two types of teaser visuals and special information videos have also been released.
Tsuyoshi Domoto will be starring in a long-awaited movie for the first time in 27 years since 1997’s “Kindaichi Case Files: Legend of the Shanghai Fishman.” The drama series “Kindaichi Case Files” started on Nippon Television in 1995, “Our Courage” (1997/NTV), and “Summer Snow” (2000/TBS) are popular among teenagers. Since then, he has appeared in many popular works. Domoto, who has been mainly involved in music activities in recent years, recently received an enthusiastic offer from the director and project producer for a two-year role, and was moved to take on the role, saying, “If it’s a role that’s needed for me.” .
Domoto plays Sawada, a man who graduated from an art college but cannot make a living in art and works as an assistant to a popular contemporary artist. He has no desire to be independent, he has lost even the will to do so, and has become accustomed to simply doing what he is told. One day, he gets into an accident on his way to work and loses his job due to an injury to his arm. When he returned to his room, there was an ant on the floor. This is a fantastic story where everyday life begins to be eroded by circles, which are drawn as if being guided by the ants. Up until now, Domoto has played many roles in which he has driven the story himself, but this is his first lead role in 27 years, and he breaks new ground with a character who gets caught up in mysterious situations.
The director of this film has created many popular works with a number of original screenplays, and won the Audience Award and Special Jury Award at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival for “When They Seriously Weave” (2017). Director Naoko Ogigami has received high acclaim both domestically and internationally, including winning the 33rd Japanese Film Critics Award and Best Director Award for “Hamon” (2023). Director Ogigami, who has reached the stage of her maturity, collaborates with Domoto for the first time on a theme that can be said to condense the essence of her as a writer.
And this time, two types of teaser visuals (main/character version) and a special video have also been released.
The teaser visual (main) uses a photo taken with the city where Sawada lives in the background. Sawada, played by Domoto, is about to be swallowed up by a giant ○, and the words “One day, suddenly an ○ approaches me” are attached in a slightly distorted form. The character version has a blank expression typical of Sawada, and a circle is approaching right behind him. The design is by the designer who worked on the Japanese version of A24’s visuals (“Midsommar”, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”), and director Naoko Ogigami’s early masterpieces “Barbar Yoshino”, “Megane”, and “Toilet”.・Iria Oshima has expressed a mysterious world of work by combining the graphic and universal shape of the circle with everyday live-action scenes and people.
In addition, the special video footage shows Sawada’s daily life beginning to be invaded by ○, and before he knows it, he begins to become trapped by ○. At the end, Sawada reacts to the strange incident and says, “Wow!” as if it were someone else’s problem. It is a special report with a mysterious worldview that will make your heart go round and round before you know it.
The filming of the film, which began at the beginning of the year, has finished and is currently in the finishing stages, so be sure to keep an eye out for further updates.
■Story
Sawada is a man who graduated from an art university but is unable to make a living in art and works as an assistant to a popular contemporary artist. He has no desire to be independent, he has lost even the will to do so, and has become accustomed to simply doing what he is told. One day, he gets into an accident on his way to work and loses his job due to an injury to his arm. When he returned to his room, there was an ant on the floor. Starting with the circle he drew as if being guided by the ant, his daily life began to be eroded by the circle.
■ Tsuyoshi Domoto comment
It’s been a while since I played the lead role in a play. The main character, Sawada, spends his days without sleep and can’t even think about who or what he’s working for. That’s why her complexion doesn’t look good, she has dark circles under her eyes, and her facial muscles aren’t moving. To live life in a gentle manner with one’s true heart and paint as one wishes. It would be great if only this could come true, but people compare themselves to others, judge themselves, and give them points. Many people probably do this because they cannot understand what it means to be lonely. People wouldn’t do it if they didn’t feel lonely. Even though I didn’t ask for it, people probably feel safe in themselves and their hearts by doing the same thing to other people’s lives and paths. So, is living with it part of life? In his own way, Sawada is drifting into the loneliness of the people. I know it’s probably not right and it’s no longer fun, but maybe unnecessary kindness is making me do it. In order to play Sawada, I had the image of him not fixing things and breaking them down.
All my co-stars treated me very kindly. Director Ogigami and all the staff members were very kind to me. That made me the happiest and happy. “Maru” is a work that was completed over and over again on an important day, fulfilling the idea that “people can live kindly to others.”
It will be interesting to see how you understand the word and character “maru” and how you will enjoy this work.
I drew a lot of circles in the movie. Every detail. I drew a lot of things. “.” with the hope that the world will not give up on peace and will devote their time and lives to creating peace.■Naoko Ogigami (Director/Screenplay) Comments
During the month of filming, I felt like I was standing next to something like a highly pure, colorless, transparent mass. If I could see his balls, I’m sure it would be like that. A pure and transparent pearl.
Movie information
“circle”
October 2024 roadshow
Cast: Tsuyoshi Domoto
Director/Screenplay: Naoko Ogigami
Production/Distribution: Asmik Ace
(C)2024 Asmik Ace, Inc.
movie site
https://maru.asmik-ace.co.jp
