First time director Hanako Hayashi (Marika Matsumoto) has fought tooth and nail to land her debut feature film gig. Now on the studio set in the summer of 1988 and trying her best to realise her artistic vision without compromises, she is besieged by problems from all sides as she approaches the shooting of the film’s climatic love scene, which is heavy in eroticism.

A subpar script and a melodramatic cast are the least of her worries as Hanako must also contend with problems such as challenges to her authority arising from her primarily male crew, finance-oriented producers, and the dreaded visit of a Film Certification Committee officer who’s looking to cut scenes from the film to avoid an R rating. Can she fight against them all?

The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2022 is organised by the Japan Foundation, with Major Support from Yakult and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, with Sponsorship in Kind from SUQQU and Athletia, and in Cultural Partnership with The Japan Society and JAL.

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