Promising young actress Sei Ashina has been given her first starring role. The movie is "Tatoe Sekai ga Owattemo," the first feature-length work by director Teruo Noguchi. Ashina plays a desperate young woman who gets sentenced for life.

Ashina gained international visibility when she was cast in Francois Girard's "Silk," which is being released later this year.

"Tatoe Sekai ga Owattemo" opens in theaters this August.