"The Long Road Ahead" movie

Year: 2009

Genre: Drama/Romance

Region: Japan

Production Company:

Language: Japanese

Release Date: February 21, 2009 (Saturday)

English Title: Halfway

Director: Eriko Kitagawa

Statistics: 91 subscribers

IMDB: ()

Synopsis:

"Whenever I get within twenty-five meters of him, I feel dizzy, as if something is wrong with me." High school student Koehiro confides her troubles to her friend Meya. On this day, Koehiro went to the infirmary due to anemia, and Shuusuke also came there because he was injured. It seems that fate had tied a red string between them, and this coincidence became the opportunity for Shuusuke and Koehiro to meet. Shuusuke fell in love with Koehiro and abruptly said to her, "Will you go out with me?"

The beautiful romance is the final miracle of high school life. However, for the third-year students, besides being immersed in love, they must also face the choice of their graduation destination. Koehiro plans to attend a local university in Hokkaido, while Shuusuke has always aimed for Waseda University in Tokyo. He didn't dare to reveal his true intentions for fear of Koehiro's reaction. But Koehiro eventually found out about his plan and became very angry: "Why didn't you tell me? What am I supposed to do if you go to Tokyo?!" She stopped answering his calls and ignored his text messages. Shuusuke tried to express his feelings, but Koehiro refused to listen. Seeing Koehiro's tears, Shuusuke started considering not going to Tokyo. The homeroom teacher, Mr. Takaragi, told Shuusuke, "Life is longer than we imagine." Shuusuke replied, "But the present is important too!" He decided to protect their relationship.

When she heard that Shuusuke wouldn't go to Tokyo, Koehiro was extremely happy, and they reconciled. However, soon after, Koehiro's inner feelings began to change. She felt that Shuusuke's decision might not truly make her happy. The calligraphy teacher, Hirabayashi, told Koehiro, "A man who hesitates and looks back isn't a real man. If you like someone, take immediate action - that's what a true man does." Koehiro began to understand Shuusuke, but she still couldn't resolve the conflict in her heart. Should she encourage Shuusuke to pursue his future in Tokyo, or should she keep him by her side?

After much thought, Koehiro made a decision and pulled Shuusuke out of the classroom...

Behind the Scenes:

Pure Love Story

Believing wholeheartedly that this love will last forever, yet deep affection ironically brings pain... "Halfway" portrays a youthful romance between a boy and a girl, evoking the first love experience we all once had. This film appears unremarkable at first glance but possesses a subtle uniqueness. Its ambition lies in confronting love head-on without distractions, becoming a purely romantic movie.

Director Eriko Kitagawa had no prior film-making experience, but this "newcomer" is no ordinary director. Numerous TV dramas with astonishing viewership rates, such as "Tell Me Who You Love," "Long Vacation," and "Beautiful Life," were all written by Kitagawa. Her scripts intricately depict characters' inner worlds while reflecting the times, resonating especially with female audiences, earning her the nickname "God of Love Stories."

This renowned screenwriter chose her forte—romance—for her debut film, taking on both directing and screenplay writing. A new Kitagawa world unseen on television will unfold on the big screen.

The film's lens is delicate and intimate, almost allowing one to sense the protagonists' breaths. Riding bicycles to school together, the playground under the sunset, and the riverbank slope where they can lie down and chat... these shining little moments naturally evoke memories of first love. Of course, the charm of the Kitagawa world doesn't stop here. The protagonists, grappling with love, are sometimes disheartened, sometimes struggling, sometimes capricious, and sometimes blind. Their every move revives the most genuine emotions of falling in love in people's hearts...

Because it is simple, it is moving. Kitagawa's "Halfway" is a gift to high school students in the prime of their youth and adults who have experienced various relationships. She touches the softest part of our inner selves with pure and unadorned true love.

Collaboration between Junichi Mukai and Takeshi Kobayashi

Renowned filmmaker Junichi Mukai and music heavyweight Takeshi Kobayashi joined forces, drawing significant attention to the film. These two should be considered old partners, having previously collaborated on "All About Lily Chou-Chou" and "Swallowtail Butterfly." However, this marks the first time they both serve as producers.

Junichi Mukai revealed that he and Eriko Kitagawa are "drinking buddies," often going out for drinks after work. The creative inspiration and shooting plans for this film were born during their conversations over drinks. From on-site affairs to film editing, Junichi Mukai provided advice on various aspects of the film, becoming a strong backing force ensuring quality and enhancing standards. This movie also exhibits some Junichi-style elements, such as unique light usage and the stage setting in a small town in Hokkaido. Junichi considers this a "handmade feeling" film. It is said that from conception to completion, the movie took four years, akin to a craftsman's meticulous craftsmanship. Interestingly, the actual filming only lasted two weeks.

As a producer and composer, Takeshi Kobayashi brought delicate and beautiful melodies to the film, appropriately highlighting the protagonists' moods with piano performances unprocessed electronically.

For those familiar with Junichi Mukai and Takeshi Kobayashi, the female singer Salyu responsible for the film's ending theme is also a familiar face. She is none other than the "Lily Chou-Chou" with a distinctive voice. The ending theme shares the same name as the film, with lyrics personally written by Eriko Kitagawa, faithfully extending the movie's worldview.

Promising New Talent Leads the Cast

The lead female character Koehiro is portrayed by the up-and-coming actress Nori Kartikaya, active in both films and television. In 2007, Nori Kartikaya won the Newcomer Award at the 31st Japan Academy Awards and the Best Newcomer Award at the 29th Yokohama Film Festival for her outstanding performance in the film "Happy Family Plan." She has also starred in popular Japanese dramas such as "14-Year-Old Mother," "Life," and "Classroom of the Sea." In this film, Nori takes on the challenge of portraying the complex emotions of a young woman in love.

Gouda Masaharu, who plays opposite Nori, is also a prominent idol actor frequently seen in coming-of-age films. He has played leading roles in well-received works such as "Natural Born Structure" and "Hana Kimi." He and Nori are not first-time collaborators; they co-starred in "Classroom of the Sea."

Additionally, the role of Koehiro's best friend Meya is played by Ishizaka Risa, known for voicing the protagonist in the animated film "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time." Pure love blockbuster "Red String of Fate" star Atsumi Tsubota plays a supportive friend in the film.

Fun Facts:

- The film was shot in Otaru City and its suburbs in Hokkaido, with no scenes filmed in studios. As is well-known, Junichi Mukai's famous work "Love Letter" was also filmed in Otaru. This location choice was not a deliberate decision beforehand; according to the script, the story takes place in a small city, without specific designation. During the search for exterior locations, Otaru became one of the candidates and was ultimately selected for its streetscapes and landscapes imbued with a mysterious atmosphere.

- The film was shot using Sony's CineAlta HDW-F900 camera, completely unfixed. The cameraman captured the actors' every movement hand-held, rotating 360 degrees. Other crew members also followed with various equipment.

- Most of the dialogue in the film was improvised by the actors. This was not a requirement from Director Kitagawa but rather a spontaneous action by Nori Kartikaya. Initially, Gouda Masaharu was confused, unsure how to respond to Nori's sudden off-script lines, but with encouragement from the director, he gradually got used to this style of acting. As a result, the film's dialogues resemble natural, everyday conversations among high school students, without any stiffness.