First Love

Colour, 35 mm
Japan, 2006, 114 min
IP – International premiere
Section: Horizons

Synopsis

This love story set in the 1960s presents a neat variation on the theme of Bonnie and Clyde, involving a crime based on fact which, to this day, inspires Japanese writers and filmmakers to come up with their own version of events. Misuzu, a lonely student from a problematic family background, finds refuge with her brother Ryo and his friends. They hang out in smoky bars, one day is like another, but life still has its attractions in the form of sex, drugs and alcohol. One of the young rebels, Kishi, makes an impression on Misuzu and persuades her to become involved in a crime of unprecedented proportions: he intends to commit the crime of the century, namely the appropriation of 25 million dollars intended for Toshiba employees.

About the director

Yukinari Hanawa (b. 1965, Kanagawa prefecture) worked in film while he was still studying. He participated in the series Roman Porno, made for the company Nikkatsu, and was assistant to directors Shun Nakahara and Kaizo Hayashi. His debut Tokyo Skin (1995) was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the Fukuoka IFF where he made a strong impression on director Chen Kaige. He studied film in Australia in 1999. He was also completing the documentary-style Fairy Tale of Sands, set in Egypt, while working on First Love. In making this film about the Japanese crime of the century, which resulted in a huge but unsuccessful police operation involving 160,000 police officers and approximately 12,000 suspects, director and screenwriter Yukinari Hanawa has added his contribution to a growing series of books, films and television dramas detailing this event.