"Black Prison," a film adaptation of Honobu Yonezawa's masterpiece mystery starring Masahiro Motoki Motoki (directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, released on June 19), had its world premiere on May 19 local time in the "Cannes Premiere" section of the 79th Cannes International Film Festival currently being held in France.
In addition to lead actor Motoki, Masaki Suda, Munetaka Aoki, Ryota Miyadate-eda, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Koji Fukada, Kei Ishikawa, and Yukiko Sode were also reportedly in attendance.
As soon as the end credits began to roll, all 1,000 audience members rose to their feet, giving a standing ovation that wouldn't stop. Director Kurosawa shook hands with Motoki, Sugada, and others, bowed deeply to the audience, and shared his joy with a smile.
This marks the sixth time a film by director Kurosawa has been screened at the film festival, following "Pulse" in 2001 (54th edition, A Certain Perspective section), "Bright Future" in 2003 (56th edition, Competition section), "Tokyo Sonata" in 2008 (61st edition, A Certain Perspective section, Jury Prize winner), "Journey to the Shore" in 2015 (68th edition, A Certain Perspective section, Best Director Award winner), and "Before We Vanish" in 2017 (70th edition, A Certain Perspective section).
"Kurorojo" (Black Prison Castle) by Honobu Yonezawa(Kadokawa Bunko/KADOKAWA), published in 2021, is a popular novel that has won numerous awards, including the 166th Naoki Prize and the 12th Yamada Futaro Prize. Set in Arioka Castle during the Sengoku period, the story follows Lord Araki Murashige (played by Motoki), who rebels against the tyrannical methods of Oda Nobunaga and decides to siege the castle, but a series of mysterious incidents occur. The suspects are among his retainers and family members who are trapped inside the castle... As everyone becomes suspicious of each other, Murashige teams up with the dangerous genius strategist Kuroda Kanbei (played by Sugada), who is imprisoned, to try and solve the case... This is a psychological mystery set in the Sengoku period. It will be Kurosawa's first period drama. It is scheduled to be released on June 19th.
The comments from the cast and director Kurosawa after the screening are as follows:
◇Comment from Masahiro Motoki Motoki (Arakimura Village Executive)
For me, it was my first time in Cannes at the age of 60. It was a short time, but I feel like it was a "pilgrimage to Ise Shrine" that created memories I can talk about for the rest of my life (laughs). After the screening, I felt a joy that I can't put into words.
From the very beginning, I've felt that being able to participate in the Cannes Film Festival is primarily due to everyone's trust, expectations, and respect for Director Kurosawa, and that I'm here because of that.
I was a little worried about how they would interpret period dramas, a different culture that even Japanese people might find difficult to understand, but there were moments of laughter as the audience chuckled at the absurdity and comical aspects of human nature, as well as glimpses of the truth. Furthermore, I could truly feel that everyone was captivated by the screen, sensing the "message for modern times" that the original work and director Kurosawa had adapted in the script conveyed, even in the silent scenes without dialogue.
◇Comment from Masaki Suda(who plays Kuroda Kanbei)
It was a miraculous first experience, and it was a strange time where I felt more relaxed and enjoyed it as an audience member than when I saw it at the preview screening in Japan.
The audience's reaction was more hilarious than I had imagined, and it seemed like they understood the Japanese wordplay and rhymes. I felt a great sense of unity with everyone, and I was very proud of that.
◇Comment from Takashi Aoki (playing the role of Kyuzaemon Araki)
I feel a pleasant sense of relief, and my body feels warm and cozy. Before the main feature even began, the mere sight of the distribution company and other companies involved elicited applause, which I felt was unique to the Cannes Film Festival. Being surrounded by applause was a bit embarrassing, but when I left the venue, I felt a sudden sense of loneliness... But all in all, I feel incredibly happy.
I think that whenever I face a project in the future, I'll probably remember this moment. It was a truly wonderful moment that will serve as a source of strength to keep me going.
◇Comment from Ryota Miyadate(who plays Sukesaburo Inui)
Everything was a first-time experience, and I really felt like I was in Cannes. Through the audience's reactions, I was able to reaffirm the strengths of Japanese cinema. It was an incredibly valuable experience that I, and the other members, will be able to talk about in the future.
To be honest, I was nervous throughout the entire screening. However, the standing ovation we received at the end was truly heartwarming. I could feel the enthusiasm of the entire audience, and it was only then that I truly felt that "Black Prison" had finally reached many people, starting with the film festival, and I was finally able to relax.
◇Comments from director Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Many of my fans are horror fans, so I honestly went into the venue feeling anxious, thinking, "This isn't a horror movie... I hope they won't be disappointed" (laughs).
Rather than simply presenting a traditional Japanese period drama, I made this film hoping that it would resonate with everyone as a universal story. So, I was deeply moved by the warm applause I received from everyone after the screening.
I've participated in many film festivals, including Cannes, but it was the first time I felt that everyone's applause after the screening was genuine and a celebration of the film. I truly feel that this experience is a result of everyone's support, which made this film possible.
