ARTICLE FILMS
Japanese Cinema Splash Grandprix
POOLSIDEMAN
Director: Hirobumi Watanabe
Story
In a suburb north of Tokyo that seems to be secluded from the world’s madness and malice, Yusuke Mizuhara works as a lifeguard at a swimming pool. With no family, friends or love, his life is lonely and monotonous. One day, he goes to another pool as a replacement guard with his unpopular coworker Koji Shirasaki… The latest film by Hirobumi and Yuji Watanabe of And the Mud Ship Sails Away… and 7 Days, both of which screened at TIFF, POOLSIDEMAN marks the debut of Gaku Imamura in the title role. The Watanabe Brothers create ambitious films with a unique view and sensibility, and here, expose the twisted depths of Japanese society and the inexplicable tendencies of Japanese people.
Hirobumi Watanabe
Hirobumi Watanabe graduated from the Japan Institute of the Moving Image, where he studied under Daisuke Tengan, son of legendary director Shohei Imamura. With his brother, film composer Yuji, he founded the production group Foolish Piggies Films in 2013 in his rural Tochigi hometown. His debut film And the Mud Ship Sails Away… (2013) and his silent followup, 7 Days (2015), screened to acclaim at TIFF and many other festivals.
STUFF
Executive Producer/Screenplay/Editor/Director : Hirobumi Watanabe
Executive Producer/Music : Yuji Watanabe
Cinematographer : Woohyun Bang
Producer : Hideki Watanabe
Producer : Akemi Watanabe
2016/Japan/117min/B&W/Japanese [Subtitled in English]
29th Tokyo International Film Festival Japanese Cinema Splash Grand prix
NIPPON CONNECTION Nippon Visions award Grand prix
The 46th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Another view section
11th Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2017
EURASIA International Film Festival (kazakhstan )
17th Japan Film Festival Ireland
Cinemalaya( Philippines)
7th Festival de Cine Lima Independiente
HELSINKI CINE AASIA Film Festival 2017
CAMERA JAPAN
Best 4 of The Best Japanese films of 2017 The JAPAN TIMES
Top1 of Top 15 Japanese Films of 2017 Blood Brothers Filmreviews
Cast
Gaku Imamura
Hirobumi Watanabe
Misao Hirayama
Takanori Kurosaki
Kodo Toda
Hitoshi Suzuki
Mina Takeda
Karin