On March 7th, it was revealed that actress Sara Minami, who gave a great performance as "Murasaki Shikibu's daughter" in last year's NHK Taiga drama "To Dear Radiance (Hikaru Kimi e) , Shining," will star in the movie "Even if I'm not loved" (directed by Aya Igashi), which will be released on July 4th. Minami will play the main character, Miyata Hiiro, who is dependent on her spendthrift mother and has never had any expectations for life.
The film is based on the Yoshikawa Eiji Literature Newcomer Prize-winning work (Kodansha Bunko) by Ayano Takeda , known for her work on the TV anime series " Sound! Euphonium ." This is the first time that one of Takeda's works has been adapted into a live-action film, and the screenplay will be written by director Igashi.
Miyata Yoa (Minami), whose college life is far from "normal," works part-time and does housework while attending school, without much sleep from morning to night. In order to give money to her mother and take care of her. Her mother is not violent or abusive. Bound only by the words "I love you," Yoa lives in a state of gentle despair and lack of expectations for life. One day, she meets Miyabi Enaga, a classmate who works at the same part-time job, and her life changes dramatically... This is the story.
Minami says, "While acting, I wanted to embrace Yosai, who uses her own unhappiness as a measuring stick to judge others. Meeting someone, losing something, believing in something. In this world where simply living is so difficult, this play made me strongly feel that even if you can't see the future, it would be nice to have the strength to survive in the present."
Director Igashi commented, "The synopsis may make it seem like a dark and heavy story, but that is not all it is. It is the story of two people, Yosai and Miyabi, who suffer and get hurt, but who sometimes shake off people's hands... and sometimes take their hands and walk forward with strength. I hope you will come to the theater to meet the two of them."
Producer Sato Shintaro said, "Subject matter that deals with social issues can easily become heavy, but this story written by Takeda-sensei is not like that; it has a mysterious pop quality that envelops the entire work. I brought this project to Director Igashi because I wanted to make a film that would respect the unique worldview of the original work, and yet leave people feeling refreshed after watching it. I believe this film was only possible with Igashi-san, who is the same age as us and lived in the same era. Life is always filled with anxieties and worries, but I hope that the courage of the characters will comfort and save someone."
