Egoist

When Kosuke (SUZUKI Ryohei) was 14 years old, his mother died, and he spent his adolescence in a rural village, suppressing his feelings as a gay man. Now working as a fashion magazine editor in Tokyo, he crosses paths with Ryuta (MIYAZAWA Hio), a personal trainer and a dedicated son to his single mother. Kosuke, known for his high-end fashion and air of superiority, and Ryuta, initially bewildered, become close and finally find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other. Sometimes, their moments together include Ryuta’s mother (AGAWA Sawako), who evokes memories of Kosuke’s late mother. They believe their peaceful love will endure, but an unexpected twist of fate threatens their relationship when Ryuta fails to show up for a planned drive.

Based on the autobiographical novel Egoist by TAKAYAMA Makoto, known for his insightful columns, and directed by MATSUNAGA Daishi (Pieta in the Toilet), a previous guest of the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme acclaimed for his exploration of human emotions, this film employs a documentary-style approach to delicately depict the intimate warmth between the characters and the conflicts arising from love.

©2023 Makoto Takayama, Shogakukan / TokyoTheatres Co.,Inc.,NIKKATSU CORPORATION,RIGHTS CUBE Inc.,ROBOT COMMUNICATIONS INC.

14歳で母を亡くし、ゲイであることを隠して田舎町で育った浩輔は、今は編集者として東京で自由に暮らしている。ある日、パーソナル・トレーナーの龍太と出会いひかれ合う……。性的マイノリティーに関するセリフや所作などを専門に監修する、LGBTQ+インクルーシブ・ディレクターの協力を仰ぎ、ゲイの世界を丁寧にかつリアルに描いた意欲作。

(Special thanks to Eikoku News Digest)