Actress Masami Nagasawa has been selected to star in a movie called "Gunjo," directed by Yosuke Nakagawa. It is based on a novel by Ayako Miyagi that began serialization in a magazine last December and is being published in book form at the end of next month.

Set in Okinawa, the story follows a young woman dispirited by her boyfriend's death, trying to get her life back together with the help of her seafaring father and a childhood love. The film also looks at the lives of the Okinawan "uminchu" (pearl divers).

Filming started last month and already wrapped up on August 5. Highlights include super-wide ocean shots and Nagasawa's first actual love scene.

Kuranosuke Sasaki is playing Nagasawa's father. Other cast members include Seiji Fukushi, Shinji Rachi, and Misato Tanaka. Miyuki Hatakeyama is singing the theme song.

"Gunjo" will be just the second Japanese film produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Release is scheduled for spring 2009, though Fox is aiming to premiere it at the Berlin International Film Festival in February.