Program Note
Middle school choir leader OKA Satomi unexpectedly receives a request from yakuza member Narita Kyoji. He asks him to become his singing coach to avoid the dreadful punishment given to the last place in the gang's singing contest. What starts as an unlikely pairing of a middle school student and a yakuza feels like a ‘natural disaster' at first. The straight-laced boy, experiencing the gloom of adolescence, encounters the ‘extraordinary’ world of the yakuza, glimpses an unfamiliar realm of rebellion, and learns to let go of his obsession with being ‘useful.’ As he builds a relationship that oscillates between friendship and affection with someone from such a different world, he gradually embraces the change that comes with growing up. Based on WAYAMA Yama's manga of the same name, the film features a delicate adaptation by screenwriter Nogi Akiko and captivating performances by the lead actors. The unforgettable climax features X Japan’s hit song ‘Kurenai,’ leaving a lasting impression. The film asserts that the essence of singing is love, a claim that resonates powerfully by the end. (KIM Yong-eon)