The film adaptation of the novel “She’ll Be Here in April” and its release on Friday, March 29, 2024.
The film is a romantic novel published in 2016 by Genki Kawamura, who produced a number of films including “Suzume no Dokkiri” and last year became the first Japanese to win the Best Director Award at the 70th San Sebastian International Film Festival for “Hyakka”.
The main character Shun Fujishiro is played by Takeru Sato, Fujishiro’s fiancée Yayoi Sakamoto by Masami Nagasawa, and Haru Iyota, Fujishiro’s first love, by Nanana Mori.
Tomokazu Yamada, who has directed music videos for Genji Yonezu’s “Lemon” and Aimiyoon’s “Marigold,” is directing his first feature film. Keisuke Imamura is the cinematographer, and Takeshi Kobayashi is in charge of music. The film was shot in Japan, Prague, Reykjavik, and Uyuni to recreate the magnificent world of the original story.
Comment by Takeru Sato
When I read the original work 7 years ago, I sympathized with Fujishiro who was searching for the true meaning of love without knowing what love is, what love is like, what he gained and lost during his time with his girlfriend, or even how to struggle.
Through this filming, I hoped that I, along with Fujishiro, could get as close as possible to the true nature of love.
Ms. Nagasawa approached her work with the utmost sincerity, never cutting corners, and with the utmost love.
I felt an overlap with Yayoi, who has a tenderness and fragility that makes her put others before herself, and yet she lives her life harder and more carefully than anyone else.
From the first day of crank-in, most of the scenes with Ms. Mori were ad-libbed, but together we created the character of Fujishiro who, for the first time, learns the joy of falling in love and being united with someone in earnest, and who is in pain from being in love. Seeing her smile, I naturally became Fujishiro.
Director Yamada, a first-time feature film director, was very sincere in his pursuit of the play while worrying together with the actors, and we had a very fulfilling time during the filming.
What is the true nature of love? How to keep love from ending?
I hope you will come to the theater to find out the answers for yourselves.
Masami Nagasawa Comment
Yayoi suddenly disappears, leaving behind Fujishiro, whom she deeply loved.
I am sure that there were some anxieties and distortions there, but I also think that she was feeling bold enough to take a new step onto a new path.
It was our first time working with Mr. Sato, but I felt at ease filming him because he plays the role and the story calmly, and I thought he was a trustworthy actor. I felt that he is a trustworthy actor. I enjoyed working with him because I developed a sense of trust in him day by day.
Director Yamada is a director who is unfazed by anything and has a strong sense of what he is concerned about, and I was able to trust his sense and sensibility. I had the sense that the story was gradually developed on the set.
This is a film for people who are struggling with love, suffering, and stopping in their tracks.
I think it will be a film that makes people want to reconsider what it means to love someone. The release of the film is still some time away, but I would be happy if you could look forward to it.
Nanana Mori Comment
I feel very honored to be able to act in this original work with my seniors whom I respect very much.
What kind of presence can I be as Haru in this work? With Ms. Sato and Mr. Nagasawa pulling me along, I kept thinking about it every day during the filming period.
Then I traveled to the Czech Republic, Iceland, and Uyuni on my first overseas job in my life, and all of those countries showed me how incredibly beautiful they are. I felt like I was playing spring with the world on my side, and I spent every day frantically burning it into my mind.
No matter how I try, I can’t change the past, but I can meet that person then, that piece of me now, the new you in front of me. I look forward to the day when I can bring such an experience to you all.
Comment by Genki Kawamura
It must be seven years ago that Takeru Sato gave me an enthusiastic feedback when he read “April comes, she comes”. I have worked with him in various capacities, and he told me that it was his favorite novel that I had written. I still recall our deep discussion about a sentence I wrote about the question of “how not to lose love” in the novel. At that time, he was Shun Fujishiro himself.
Seven years have passed since then. Times have changed drastically, but I feel that the issues of love and romance are still as complicated as ever, and even more so. The filmmaking process proceeded with careful discussions with Takeru Sato, with the aim of making a romantic film for the current era.
I felt that Masami Nagasawa’s sincere approach to her work often overlaps with the role of Yayoi. A wonderful Yayoi was born, who gives light to people who are supposed to be working hard and earnestly but somehow find it hard to live.
Nanana Mori gave a wonderful performance as Haru, who is like a “memory of my first love. Her journey around the world took my breath away more than once.
It took seven years to complete the film, but I now believe that it was necessary for this cast and crew to come together.
I would like to thank Takeru Sato for accompanying me in the making of this film from beginning to end.
Tomokazu Yamada comment
Takeru Sato, Masami Nagasawa, Nanana Mori, and
truly made this cast a dream come true.
The time I spent with these three sincere and supremely expressive people was exciting and irreplaceable.
Takeru Sato participated from the script meeting stage, and we worked together to create a portrait of the characters through repeated discussions, which is not a common practice in Japanese films.
Ms. Masami Nagasawa, whose role was newly adapted for the film version, was a perfect embodiment of the “new elements beyond the original novel,” and she sincerely portrayed a character with a lovely and pure humanity that could never have been created by anyone other than Ms. Nagasawa.
Nanana Mori, whom I had worked with in a previous short film and trusted immensely, showed an impressive transparency and presence, surpassing the script by far and leaving much to her talent on the set. The contrast she brought to the film was shocking.
I am very proud to have had the opportunity to work with the three of you in this new expression.
April, She’s Here” (Japanese text only)
In theaters nationwide at Toho on March 29, 2024
Director : Tomokazu Yamada
Screenplay : Yuichiro Kido, Tomokazu Yamada, Genki Kawamura
Music : Takeshi Kobayashi
Cast : Takeru Sato, Masami Nagasawa, Nanana Mori
Distributor : Toho
©2024 “She’ll Be Here in April” Production Committee