The Prime Original film "Angel Flight THE MOVIE" (directed by Horikirizono Kentaro), starring actress Yonekura Ryoko, is now streaming exclusively on Prime Video. The film is positioned as a sequel to the moving human drama "Angel Flight: International Funeral Home Specialist," which also starred Yonekura and was released on Prime Video in March 2023 and broadcast on NHK General TV from May last year. Yonekura said the reason for the response to this work is that its structure, in which "'farewells' with loved ones lead to new 'beginnings'," resonates with many people.
◇ "It's a gripping story" that expresses the meaning and importance of life.
The novel is based on "Angel Flight: International Funeral Repatriation Specialists" (Shueisha Bunko) by Sasa Ryoko, winner of the 10th Kaiko Takeshi Non-Fiction Award. It is a moving portrayal of the work of international funeral repatriation specialists, specialists who are not familiar to many people, responsible for transporting the bodies of Japanese people who died overseas back to Japan and foreigners who died in Japan back to their home countries. The screenplay is being written by Furusawa Ryota, who also wrote the drama. Yonekura plays Izawa Nami, the powerful president of Angel Hearth, a small company with its office at Haneda Airport.
This film depicts the work of international funeral repatriation specialists who deliver the bodies of Japanese people who died overseas and foreigners who died in Japan to their families in as close to their appearance as possible. It not only conveys the sadness of losing a loved one, but also the circumstances and unspoken feelings of those left behind, and the message of "how those left behind can look forward."
Yonekura explained why the drama series was so well received, saying, "It doesn't just depict the death of someone, the loss of a life, but also the thoughts, environment, encounters, memories, and future of the people involved with that person. Saying goodbye to a loved one doesn't necessarily end with just memories, but rather the structure of the show, which leads to a "beginning" for those left behind, resonated with the hearts of those who watched it."
Yonekura said she had been a fan of the original work even before the decision was made to make a live-action version, and expressed the appeal of the work by saying, "I was originally such a big fan that I reread Sasaki's book many times, and the original work, as well as Furusawa Ryota's script, are truly wonderful, which is why I feel it has become such a compelling work. No matter which episode you look at, each story doesn't fit into one pattern and is well-written, properly expressing the meaning and weight of life. I feel that each story is sure to capture your heart."
In addition to Yonekura, the film sequel to the drama will once again feature the members of Angel Hearth: Kenichi Endo, Matsumoto Honoka, Shirota Yu, Yamoto Yuma, Noro Kayo, and Tokui Yu.
In response to requests pouring in from all over the country, including the wife of a Japanese couple who died in Mexico, a YouTuber who traveled the world as a wheelchair backpacker, a baby who died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), and a former Hollywood star who was adored in Japan for many years, Angel Hearth members split into pairs and each do their best to deliver the body and the deceased's thoughts to the bereaved families waiting for them back home.
The story also depicts the fate of Nami's boyfriend, Adachi Yukito, played by Osamu Mukai, which was not revealed in the drama. Watch the story of a professional who works hard to help the surviving family members move forward despite facing various obstacles.
