“Byakuyakou,” “Heaven’s Story” to show at 61st Berlin International Film Festival

Director Yoshihiro Fukagawa’s movie adaptation of “Byakuyakou” (starring Maki Horikita and Kengo Kora) has been chosen for screening at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival, being held February 10-20.

The movie will be part of the festival’s Panorama section, which “presents new works by well-known directors.” In 2010, Isao Yukisada’s “Parade” screened in that same section and received one of the Prizes of the FIPRESCI Juries.

“Byakuyakou” is based on the Keigo Higashino novel of the same name, which was turned into a television drama in 2006 starring Takayuki Yamada and Haruka Ayase. The movie opens in Japan on January 29.

In addition to “Byakuyakou,” it has been revealed that Takahisa Zeze’s “Heaven's Story” (currently in theaters) will be shown in the festival’s Forum section. In 2009, Sion Sono’s “Ai no Mukidashi” (“Love Exposure”) won two awards after being screened in that section. Surprisingly, “Heaven’s Story” is even longer than “Ai no Mukidashi” – the running time for the film is 4 hours and 38 minutes, compared to 3 hours and 57 minutes for “Ai no Mukidashi.”

Source:
Oricon