CM 2022

Love on Trial

恋愛裁判

CineMart 2022 - Love on Trial

Goals at CineMart We are looking for co-production partners in Europe and worldwide to strengthen the story.
The film deals with Japan's contemporary issues: women's 
status in the society, the exploitation of young women and 
the oppressive nature of corporations which put profits 
before individual rights. The film also portrays Japanese 
vivid pop culture. We are looking for co-production partners 
for the creative input, and financial support to do mainly 
post-production. We also would like to meet with possible 
sales agents and distributors.Synopsis Japan, 2022. Mai, 22, belongs to a moderately successful idol girl group called Happy Fanfare, aka HappiFan. Kei, also 22, is a university student working as a part-time camera operator. On the night he 
is assigned to film a HappiFan show, Kei recognizes Mai from his junior high school. This coincidental 
meeting thrills them both. Although Kei has no interest in "idols", he finds himself drawn to Mai as he 
films the group on stage.
Soon the two fall in love. However, their romance has to be kept secret because Mai's contract 
stipulates a "No boys" clause. Still, Mai is happily in love and enjoys her profession. But that changes 
when a tabloid reports that a HappiFan member has a boyfriend. Nanaka, 19, has violated the "No boys" 
rule so she loses her regular role in the girl group. As she gives her fans a teary apology, Kei realises 
that his relationship with Mai could jeopardise her career, and so he retreats. Breaking up isn't easy for 
Mai but she tries to understand Kei's intention and to move on. Their love is rekindled when a fan goes 
berserk at a HappiFan event. Worried, Kei immediately drives to the venue when he hears the news. 
When Mai sees him, they take off in Kei's mini truck despite her manager's attempts to stop her.
A few months later, Mai is no longer with HappiFan. Because of the "No boys" clause, the HappiFan 
management sues both her and Kei. Although both Mai and Kei engage lawyers, the court proceedings 
are overwhelming.
As Mai lives with Kei in his apartment and works part-time, she has less contact with the HappiFan 
members. Then the management proposes a settlement deal to end the trial. Kei wishes to put the 
lawsuit behind them and start over together. Despite being still bothered by the implications of the 
"No boys" rule, Mai considers accepting the deal.Director's Biography Koji Fukada (1980, Japan) began making independent films as a student. His first 
work to achieve international recognition&nbsp;was Hospitalit&eacute; in 2010. In 2016, he won the Jury Prize in Un Certain Regard Cannes International Film Festival 
for&nbsp;Harmonium. He has made films constantly since then, and 
was awarded the Order of the Chevalier in France in 2018 
for his work. The film version of his original TV series&nbsp;The 
Real Thing&nbsp;was officially selected at Cannes in 2020. Apart 
from working as a director, he is an activist and advocate for 
Japanese independent cinema. He was one of the founders 
of the Japanese Independent Film Guild (Eiga Nabe). 
With director Hamaguchi Ryusuke, he ran a crowdfunding 
campaign to help independent film theatres survive the Covid 
pandemic.

Survivance

An idol singer falls in love with a friend from secondary school. Despite her effort to keep their relationship secret, it gets exposed and her management sues them both for the breach of "no boys" contractual clause. Should she fight for her dignity or choose to settle for a peaceful life?