Program Note
On the way home after celebrating his upcoming marriage to the daughter of the CEO of the advertising agency he works for, promising young man, Kawamura, falls into a manhole and becomes trapped. Despite his efforts to escape, only thing he encounters is failure. He reaches out to his colleagues for help, but their communication fails. Now desperate, he contacts his ex-girlfriend, Mai, but escape remains elusive. As time ticks away, he knows he must make it to the wedding, so he relentlessly pursues desperate escape.
Based on the simple logline of a man trapped in a manhole, this film skillfully weaves various elements of humor and delivers intentional messages throughout. It vividly portrays the bright and dark sides of social media, and reflects the true nature of human relationships in modern society. It maintains a sense of urgency characteristic of the genre, never losing momentum. The film was officially invited to the 2023 Berlin Film Festival, and actor Nakajima Yuto delivers an impressive performance inside the manhole, making the impactful ending a not-to-be-missed highlight. (Martin LEE)