Behind-the-scenes photos from the film "Beyond Dimensions" (directed by Toyoda Toshiaki), starring actors Kubozuka Yosuke and Ryuhei Matsuda, were released on September 7th. The photos capture a scene from filming, featuring Kubozuka as the solitary ascetic Yamanaka Rosuke, Matsuda as the mysterious assassin Niino Kaze, and director Toyoda. Kubozuka, who plays Rosuke, who exudes an eerie aura in the mountains, commented, "I'm a 'Stand' that appears to convey what Director Toyoda wants to say," referencing Hirohiko Araki's popular manga "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure."
This will be Kubozuka's first time working with Toyoda in four years. "I've always been a fan of Director Toyoda's work. This time, it's the culmination of the 'Rosozan Series,' so I was really looking forward to it ever since I heard about it," he revealed.
Regarding the challenge of playing the solitary trainee, he recalled, "As I was acting, the boundaries gradually became blurred, and I couldn't quite tell whether they were Director Toyoda's words, my own words, or words that were falling from the heavens. It's a strange experience every time, and this time was no different." Director Toyoda also expressed his immense trust in Kubozuka, saying, "There is no one in Japan who can properly play the main character, Yamanaka Rosuke, other than him. When it comes to an actor who can understand the intention of the work and synchronize with Rosuke's spirit, I couldn't have considered choosing anyone other than him."
The released behind-the-scenes photos show Matsuda, who plays the assassin Niino, pointing a gun at the camera, as well as director Toyoda looking at a monitor on set.
Matsuda and director Toyoda have been working together since the film "Blue Spring" (2002), and this marks their seventh collaboration. Matsuda said of director Toyoda, "Personally, I feel that Director Toyoda has helped me grow as an actor, and I am grateful to him. 'Blue Spring' was the first time I was able to project my true self into a film, and I was able to work on it positively in many ways. Whether it was 'Nine Souls' (2003) or 'The Miracle of Crybaby Shottan' (2018), I feel like Director Toyoda has given me the opportunity to go beyond my own limits little by little."
Matsuda's character, Niino Kaze, is the same name as the character he played in Toyoda's other films, "I'M FLASH!" (2012) and "Day of Destruction" (2018). Regarding Matsuda's casting, Toyoda said, "I wanted him to play cool, hard-boiled roles like this. He was amazing this time too. He's a truly picturesque actor."
"Beyond Dimensions" is Toyoda's first full-length fiction film in about seven years. The solitary ascetic, Yamanaka Rosuke (Kubota), goes missing at the home of a dangerous religious leader, Ajari (Chihara Junior). Meanwhile, the mysterious assassin, Niino Kaze (Matsuda), is asked by Rosuke's girlfriend, Nonohana (Imo Yu), to search for him. Eventually, Rosuke and Niino are led by a conch horn to meet on Mount Roso, and they cross dimensions to face off in a cave of mirrors. What do they see as they travel from the past to the present and future, from Japan to Earth and even into space?
It will be released at Eurospace (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) and other locations nationwide from October 17th.
