7.23 (Wed)Competition
LONG NIGHT
- Onsite
- 7.23 (Wed) 11:00 Audio Visual Hall
Director: Yui KUSAKARI
Cast: Koichi HARADA, Itsuki KASAHARA, Kaho MAYUZUMI, Sayaka WADA, Kenta GOTO
2025 / Japan / 116min.
On a summer night two years ago, Kai disappeared into the sea. His girlfriend Mari and his best friend Koichi find solace in each other’s company as they silently struggle to cope with their loss while trying to return to a life of normalcy. However, an unexpected reunion begins to unearth all the emotions they had kept buried in their hearts. This work uses its delicate imagery and serene storytelling style to portray this ethereal time of uncertainty while showing us a glimpse of the turmoil inside the hearts of those left behind. Viewers will be fascinated by the outstanding script and composition of the movie that shines through the precise acting and deeply expressive lines of the young talents. The audience will be left wondering: Will the night’s darkness ever lift? The movie’s director Yui Kusakari is a student in the Department of Cinema at Nihon University College of Art. This movie, which will have its world premiere at this festival, is his first feature film direction. It is a passion project that casts a gentle light on the isolation of today’s youth while also conveying their hopes for the future.
Director: Yui KUSAKARI
Born in Tokyo in 2003. While still in high school, Yui Kusakari saw the movie Happy Hour (15), directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, which inspired him to pursue movie direction. He is part of a collective of visual and musical artists called “Todaimori” and currently studies scriptwriting at the Department of Cinema at Nihon University College of Art. His movie, LONG NIGHT, premiering at this festival is his first feature film direction.
Message
Even on the darkest night, morning is sure to come. This axiom is the basis for why “dawn” is often used as a metaphor for hope. But is that really true? What if the world ended just before the break of dawn? What if one succumbed to the isolation of the night’s lingering darkness? This movie examines that universal truth and asks these questions, searching for an answer. I can’t wait for people to experience it on the big screen.
