Description
Title: Body Drop Asphalt (2000)
Alternate Title: ボディドロップアスファルト
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot Synopsis:
Eri Manaka, a young and intelligent Japanese woman, finds herself engulfed in depression and alienation. To escape her monotonous life, she pens a romance novel titled “Soft Cream Love,” envisioning an alter ego, Rie, who experiences love at first sight with a man named Fuyuki. The novel becomes a sensational hit, propelling Eri into the limelight of literary fame. Despite her success, Eri’s personal life remains unfulfilled, leading her to pursue a pessimistic sequel. As she delves deeper into her writing, the boundaries between fiction and reality blur, culminating in unexpected encounters and self-discovery.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Junko Wada
- Writer: Junko Wada
- Cast:
- Sayuri Oyamada as Eri Manaka
- Makoto Ogi as Rie
- Yôji Tanaka as Fuyuki Tôjô
- Yûichi Kishino as Hoshino
- Kenichi Okubo as Sekine
IMDb Link:
Body Drop Asphalt (2000)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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nara – ★★★☆☆
“A potent and straightforward film. The first 20 minutes show how frustrating life can be, so Eri creates a novel of how she wants her life to look but eventually becomes immersed in her story…” -
PlaguDocta – ★★★★☆
“Our dramedy. In a million galaxies; gaining and losing unrealism. Repeating…”
Meta Description:
“Body Drop Asphalt” (2000), directed by Junko Wada, is a Japanese comedy-drama that follows Eri Manaka, a young author whose fictional creations begin to intertwine with her reality, exploring themes of loneliness, creativity, and the blurred lines between fiction and life.
Title: Broadcast Girl (2008)
Alternate Title: 新人女子アナ危機一髪
Genre: Romance, Drama, Mature
Plot Synopsis: Aya Hirai, an unsuccessful news reporter, finds her career taking an unexpected turn after a compromising photo of her kissing the director surfaces, leading to blackmail. Two years later, she replaces Yuko Fujisaki as the main anchor. Determined to reclaim her position, Yuko is driven by the memory of her boyfriend, who was killed in Palestine six years prior. The film explores themes of ambition, jealousy, and the personal sacrifices made in the broadcasting industry.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Takayuki Tamura
- Writer: Junpei Sugimoto
- Cast:
- Rika Sonohara as Aya Hirai
- Lemon Hanazawa as Yuko Fujisaki
Letterboxd Link: Broadcast Girl
MyDramaList Link: Broadcast Girl
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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Kurtis Britts – ★★★☆☆ “A decent, light-hearted emotional story with several extended intimate scenes. The plot is interesting and occasionally sad, though perhaps not as well-executed as it could have been.”
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CityGent – ★½☆☆☆ “Missed opportunity to showcase the abuse by senior TV executives. It starts with promise but devolves into a drab soap opera about two women competing for the same job.”
Meta Description: “Broadcast Girl” (2008) is a Japanese romance-drama directed by Takayuki Tamura. The film follows Aya Hirai, a news reporter whose career shifts dramatically after a scandal, leading to a rivalry with main anchor Yuko Fujisaki. Themes include ambition, jealousy, and personal sacrifice in the broadcasting industry.
