Endearing HER LOVE BOILS BATH WATER

Posted on July 8, 2017

from left: Rie Miyazawa (Futaba Sachino) and Hana Sugisaki (Azumi Sachino) © HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Film Partners. Catch this film and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017.

My Warmth, you inspire me.

Written by

Jude Bautista

Azumi (Hana Sugisaki) is the best illustrator in art class quietly working on a painting. Mean girls suddenly descended on her like birds of prey. They grabbed tubes of paint and started squeezing them on her palette. Out of desperation Azumi grabs the tray out of their hands.

Hana Sugisaki (Azumi Sachino) is surrounded by bullies. © HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Film Partners. Catch this film and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017.

Next scene her mother Futaba (Rie Miyazawa) gets a call from the principal, there’s trouble with Azumi. Futaba sees Azumi with paint all over her face and clothes. Principal says, “She claims she did it herself.” After another incident of bullying, Azumi retreats to her bed hiding under the covers. Futaba pulls the blanket, “Stand up for yourself! You have to face them.” In tears Azumi says, “ I’m inferior to everyone else. I’m not like you at all.” Futaba says in exasperation, “We’re no different you and me. Where do you think my strength comes from if not you?”

from left: ‘HER LOVE..’ Director Riyota Nakano , FDCP Chairperson Liza Diño, Japan Foundation Director Hiroaki Uesugi, Shang Rila Plaza EVP & GM Lala Fojas and Emb of Japan Minister Atsushi Kuwabara. Catch HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER and many more at the 20^th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017. Photo by Jude Bautista.

HER LOVE BOILS BATH WATER is just one of 20 titles in the 20^th Eiga Sai Film Festival running in Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017. Tickets are at the cost effective rate of only P100 each. After the Shang Plaza Mall run screenings will continue at the U.P Film Center, CCP Little Theater and move on to Davao, Cebu, Baguio, Bacolod and Ilo-ilo until August 29, 2017. For exact schedules and updates log on to the official JFF | EIGASAI Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/eigasaiPH

HER LOVE… Writer Director Ryota Nakano was at the opening last July 6^th at Shang Cineplex to grace the event and discuss details of the film with moviegoers and Pinoy filmmakers.

‘HER LOVE..’ Director Riyota Nakano; Catch HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017. Photo by Jude Bautista.

HER LOVE BOILS BATH WATER 湯を沸かすほどの熱い愛 has earned numerous prestigious awards: BEST PICTURE, BEST SCREENPLAY from 41^st Hochi Awards, 26th Japanese Movie Critics Awards, and BEST ACTRESS (Rie Miyazawa) and BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (Hana Sugisaki) from 40th Japan Academy Prize, to name a few.

Rie Miyazawa as Futaba Sachino © HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Film Partners. Catch this film and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017.

This is one of the most touching stories of maternal love and sacrifice perfect for all ages. The strong familial bond is something that Filipino audiences can easily relate to. The rich Japanese culture, traditions are in full display especially when they go on a road trip seeing the most iconic landmarks such as Mount Fuji and eating deep sea crabs in the Northwest region.

Film star Rie Miyazawa plays Futaba Sachino who is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and has only a few months to live. Struggling to raise her teenage daughter Azumi, she decides to look for her estranged husband who abandoned them years before. In order to support the family Futaba reopens the old bathhouse in their property. Each character has his or her secret tragedy and pain. They learn that the only way to cope is to lean on each other as a family.

from left: Rie Miyazawa (Futaba Sachino), Hana Sugisaki (Azumi Sachino), Aoi Itō (Ayuko Katase) and Joe Odagiri (Kazuhiro Sachino) © HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Film Partners. Catch this film and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017.

In the Philippines, just days before the opening of Eiga Sai, there was a news report of an infant left at the NAIA airport. The infant was found in the male restroom, but was otherwise healthy and unharmed. This is an indication of the reality that parents do abandon their children, in some cases even abuse and harm them. One can only imagine the experience of this child growing up, not knowing his birthparents. HER LOVE… allows us an intimate look into how a child who was abandoned struggles with identity and how this longing to know one’s parents is carried throughout life.

Aoi Itō as Ayuko Katase © HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Film Partners. Catch this film and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017.

Consummate Actress

Rie Miyazawa is one of the most recognizable Japanese actresses and also the most awarded. She starred in last year’s Eiga Sai opening film PALE MOON where she played a middle-aged bank employee who has an affair with a college student. This time she is the strong-minded and independent Futaba. This is the strength of character that allows her to raise her daughter on her own even when her husband leaves her. She is very believable not because she seems emotionally invincible. In spite of her weak moments when she cries, she soldiers on and overcomes.

Rie excels in the little moments when she can’t help but be an affectionate person not just to her own family but to people in general. In one scene she pulls the chin hair of Private Investigator Takimoto (Tarō Suruga) and wipes the cheek of his adorable daughter Mayu. Her character immediately endears herself to the child.

from left Rie Miyazawa (Futaba Sachino), Tarō Suruga (Private Investigator Takimoto) with movie daughter Mayu. Child actor in Mayu role is unlisted in official website. © HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Film Partners. Catch this film and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017.

Writer Director Nakano in an interview after the screening said, “She’s very professional. There’s a very strong persuasive element to her acting. That was the biggest thing I felt the persuasiveness, the power of her performance.” The dedication of Miyazawa is peerless. During the portions where her character takes a turn for the worse, there is a real physical transformation, “She really loses weight, and she becomes thinner. She goes into her role deeply.”

Hana Sugisaki as Azumi Sachino © HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Film Partners. Catch this film and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017.

Luminary Young actors

Rising star Hana Sugisaki plays teenage daughter Azumi Sachino. Her role may be the most difficult in the film. Bullies in school bog her down and worse she also has to contend with the turmoil in her family. The way Sugisaki was able to portray the growth in her character in finding that inner strength to face these battles was excellent. The performance earned her 4 Best Supporting Actress nods (Hochi Film Awards, Japanese Academy Awards, Blue Ribbon, Japanese Critics) along with Best Newcomer (Japanese Academy Awards). Director Nakano admitted that he wanted to work with Sugisaki and had her in mind for the role.

The child actors are the unheralded thespians of the cast. Nakano admits that Japan is rich with young talent, which he discovered through auditions. Aoi Itō as 9 year old Ayuko Katase has the unenviable role of the new or younger daughter of absentee husband Kazuhiro Sachino played by Joe Odagiri. Ayuko can’t relate to her emotionally distant ‘father’ and has not seen her own mother for sometime. At such a young age she is able to act out the difficulties of trying to fit in with her ‘new’ family.

The role of Mayu at age 6, daughter of the Private Investigator Takimoto (Tarō Suruga), is un-credited in the official website. Which is unfortunate as she is one of the most adorable child actors in Asian cinema today.

Tarō Suruga (Private Investigator Takimoto) with movie daughter Mayu. Child actor in Mayu role is unlisted in official website. © HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Film Partners. Catch this film and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017. (15)

The Family enjoys Shabu shabu; © HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Film Partners. Catch this film and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017.

Japanese Food

Cuisine plays a huge role in this typically Japanese movie. Shabu-shabu in their household is only eaten on special occasions such as birthdays. This is the savory soup of veggies and strips of wagyu beef. They are added into the broth cooked in an open pot right on the table. Shabu shabu is also a means for Futaba to shower affection to her family and bring them together on the table. Their home is located just outside Tokyo in Ashikaga City where Shabu shabu is popular.

from left: Hana Sugisaki (Azumi Sachino) and Aoi Itō (Ayuko Katase) feast on Spider Crab © HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Film Partners. Catch this film and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017.

Futaba also brings her two daughters on a road trip to Toda Harbor in Shizuoka prefecture. This is where they see a picturesque sunset with the iconic figure of Mount Fuji looming in the horizon. This is one of the few places where they could taste deep-sea spider crabs that are easily thrice as big as the typical variety. The experience of the special meal is one of the happiest for the two kids.

The family views Mt Fuji from Toda Harbor, Shizuoka prefecture © HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Film Partners. Catch this film and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017.

Facing Challenges

Director Nakano intimated that he used some personal experiences to write the touching screenplay. He lost his father at age 6 and was raised by his mother. Some of the characters are based on real people. With this film he believes that by contemplating trials and making those who love us our family, we are able to see the true joys in our life.

from left: Hana Sugisaki (Azumi Sachino), Aoi Itō (Ayuko Katase) and Tori Matsuzaka (Takumi Mukai) © HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Film Partners. Catch this film and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017.

JFF | EIGASAI 2017 is generously supported by Shangri-La Plaza, Shang Cineplex, UP Film Institute, Cultural Center of the Philippines, SM Supermalls, SM City Baguio, SM City Bacolod, Film Development Council of the Philippines, Japanese Association of Northern Luzon, Sa Lubong-Baguio, Cordillera Green Network, JT International (Philippines) Inc., Viva Communications Inc., Tagalized Movie Channel (TMC), Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., Akira, SumoSam and Richmonde Hotel Ortigas.

center: ‘HER LOVE..’ Director Riyota Nakano surrounded by the Japan Foundation family. Catch HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017. Photo by Jude Bautista.

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Tori Matsuzaka as Takumi Mukai © HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Film Partners. Catch this film and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017.

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from left: Aoi Itō (Ayuko Katase) and Hana Sugisaki (Azumi Sachino) © HER LOVE BOILS BATHWATER Film Partners. Catch this film and many more at the 20th Eiga Sai Japanese film festival at Shang Cineplex, Shangri La Plaza Mall from July 6 to 16, 2017.