The Man Who Failed to Die 死に損なった男
PRODUCTION NOTES
From Seiji Tanaka, the award-winning newcomer director of 'Melancholic,' comes his explosive commercial debut!
"The Man Who Failed to Die" is director Seiji Tanaka's eagerly awaited commercial debut, following his 2019 independent film "Melancholic" that won several awards including Best Director Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival's Japanese Cinema Splash section, and White Mulberry Award at the Udine Far East Film Festival. The film also recorded a surprisingly long-running hit in Tokyo theaters, an exceptional feat for an independent film.
Continuing from "Melancholic," which was acclaimed for its unique setting of murders in a late-night bathhouse and its unpredictable plot, this new work is an original screenplay by the director himself. It presents an extraordinary buddy movie where the ghost of a man who died and another man, who narrowly escaped death thanks to him, join forces to confront their challenges together.
STORY
A buddy revenge drama between 'the man who failed to die', saved by a train accident at the next station, and 'the ghost of the man who died'
Comedy writer Ippei Sekiya decides to end his life one day on his way home, contemplating suicide by jumping in front of a train at a station platform. However, just as he is about to jump, a person is hit by a train at the next station, which makes him reconsider. In tribute to Tomohiro, the man who died instead of him, Ippei sneaks into Tomohiro's funeral. Upon returning home, he is confronted by the ghost of Tomohiro. Grateful that Ippei continues to live because of his death, Tomohiro makes an astonishing request: "Will you kill the man who is stalking my daughter Aya?”
Driven by the persistent ghost, who vows to haunt him until the deed is done, Ippei begins to investigate the stalker. It turns out that the stalker is Aya's divorced ex-husband. Ippei, pretending it's a coincidence, helps Aya, who is being pursued by her ex-husband. Upon discovering that she enjoys comedy, he invites her to a live show featuring a comedian he manages. However, Ippei struggles to finalize a satisfactory script...
As Ippei pleads for the revenge to wait until after the success of the live show, Tomohiro surprisingly offers ideas for the act. Through the process of creating the script, an unexpected friendship begins to blossom between Ippei and the ghost.
- Starring
- Katamari Mizukawa (水川かたまり)
- Written & Directed by
- Seiji Tanaka (田中征爾)
- Japan release
- February 21, 2025
- Genre
- Drama
- Technical Specs
- Color / 1:2.35 / Digital / 5.1ch