It was revealed on February 2nd that actor Kentaro Sakaguchi will be starring in the film "I Don't Know You," (directed by Ryota Nakano). The film is set to be released in late summer this year. This marks Nakano's first original screenplay since "Hot Water" (2016), 10 years ago. This will be Sakaguchi's first collaboration with the director, as he cuts his hair short and completely changes his image to play a man from his lonely youth to his forties.
Nishiyama Yuhei, played by Sakaguchi, has been living a solitary life, working quietly and following a routine he has set for himself, without feeling lonely in his single environment. However, when he meets Satsuki, a new part-time employee and single mother at his workplace, Yuhei finds joy in life and his days begin to shine. One day, Satsuki introduces him to her five-year-old daughter. Living with Satsuki and her daughter frees Yuhei's heart, which had been longing for a family, but...
The teaser visual that was also released includes the lead, "13 years ago, for six months, I was left all alone in the world, but I met someone who was like a father to me. He loved me like his own daughter and was madly in love with me. I'm going to meet him. He's the man who killed my mother and is serving time in prison..." In addition, the visual shows Sakaguchi's Nishiyama Yuhei standing in what appears to be a nursery school, with traffic cones scattered across a lawn and fluttering flags from around the world, with an impressive expression that seems to be pleading for something.
The film is a co-production with France's Pyramide Productions, and distribution in France has already been confirmed. World sales will be handled by Goodfellas. In Japan, it will be distributed by Klockworx.
Comments from Mr. Sakaguchi and Director Nakano are as follows:
◇Comment from lead actor Kentaro Sakaguchi
When I first read the script, I thought it was complicated and very difficult, but at the same time, I thought it was a very endearing story. The choice Yuhei makes is not something I can approve of, but I felt like I could understand his inner movements and feelings that led him to that point, and it was very human. However, there were moments scattered throughout the story where his direction shifted just a little, and I felt like something must have gone wrong somewhere. I think he's a man who was saved by love, but in the end, there must have been a moment when he was trapped by love, and I felt that this was a work that carefully portrayed that.
It was fun working with Director Nakano. We created Yuhei together, and whenever I wondered how it was going, I would consult him straight away. I saw the director engrossed in filming, so I think we've managed to capture something really wonderful. I'm looking forward to the finished product. That's not to say I'm raising the bar for the director (laughs).
I believe that love transcends country, language, and race. Although Yuhei committed a crime, I believe that the emotions he felt leading up to that point will be understandable to many people, and that this film will resonate with people from many countries. I think this film will be a success if people see the choices he made and the path he has taken in life.
◇Comment from Director Ryota Nakano
There is no right answer in filmmaking, and I always write and revise, think and waver, while thinking about various things like the times and universality. But one thing remains unchanging: I want people who watch my film to enjoy it from the bottom of their hearts. For me, the theme of this film, my first completely original work in 10 years, is loving people and forgiving people.
For the first time in my films, I have written a scene in which someone is killed. I have no intention of condoning murder, but I wanted to portray the complex emotions that people go through to get to that point, and the humanity that forces them to do so. In this era of constant conflict and an unending cycle of hatred around the world, I felt I had to portray forgiveness. It was difficult to describe this film in one sentence, but a friend who read the script said it perfectly: "A suspense film with a sense of love and humor unlike anything I've ever seen before." That's exactly the kind of film I wanted to make.
For the lead role of a lonely young man, I asked Sakaguchi Kentaro, who I felt was a rare actor who possessed contradictory qualities: softness and strength, a carefree smile and sadness.
On set, I enjoyed the limitless freedom of an original work, and Sakaguchi and I constantly exchanged opinions as we created the main character's character. As a result, I think we had the most takes of any set I've ever worked on. Until the day we wrapped up filming, I found myself laughing, crying, and struggling together with the main character that Sakaguchi and I had created, and I was excited every day as we filmed.
The film is currently in the final stages of completion. One thing I can say is that this film features an actor never before seen: Kentaro Sakaguchi.
