Distribution rights for Naoto Kumazawa's Vanished (Oyayubi sagashi) are being offered for sale by Pony Canyon Inc. (K.K. Ponî Kyanion) at the Marché du Film in Cannes. The movie is being screened at the Gray 3 on Thursday May 18th at 6:00 p.m. (18:00), and at the Riviera 2 on Wednesday May 24th at 12:00 p.m. (12:00). Xanadeux K.K. (K.K. Zanadû) plans to release it theatrically in Japan this summer.
The screenplay for Vanished (Oyayubi sagashi) was written by Kumazawa, Yukiko Manabe, and Izumi Takahashi, based on the eponymous novel Oyayubi sagashi by Yûsuke Yamada. As was previously reported here and there on ScreenAnarchy, the movie's principal cast apparently is as follows: Ken Miyake, Ayumi Itô, Ken'ichi Matsuyama, Luna Nagai (a.k.a. Runa Nagai), Hiroyuki Onoue, Tôru Shinagawa, Shihô Harumi, Ayumu Saitô, Shirô Sano, and Satomi Tezuka (Teduka Satomi).
Kumazawa's previous directing credits include Niraikanai kara no tegami and The Security Women Affair (Nikutai keibiin: sakareta seifuku).
Other movies based on works by Yamada include Yoshihiro Nakamura's Asoko no seki (eponymous novel), Nakamura's @babymail (@beibîmêru - eponymous novel), and Yôhei Takahashi's 8.1 (a.k.a. "Hatten'ichi" - eponymous novella).
Below is a story summary for Vanished from the English-language page for the movie on Pony Canyon's website.
On a hot summer day at an elementary school reunion, Takeshi finds himself seated at the same table with his old schoolmates Chie, Tomohiko, Aya and Nobuhisa. While they haven't seen each other since graduation, at Takeshi's urging, they decide to play "the game" one more time - for Yumiko.
8 years ago, it was Yumiko who initiated "the game". With eyes closed, holding hands and forming a circle, they recite a chant that will transport their souls to another place - a room where they might find the missing thumb of a dead girl. Whoever found it would be granted their wish. But if someone tapped you on the shoulder, you must never look back or you would be trapped in the room forever.
The six classmates nervously begin the ritual, and just moments before "the game" begins, Yumiko asks Takeshi, "What would you do if I disappeared?"
"I promise I would find you."
Then Takeshi is transported to a room he has never seen before. He scrambles around in search of the missing thumb, but hears Yumiko's scream from another room. As he tries to find her, someone taps him on the shoulder. A white hand... without a thumb. In a blind panic, Takeshi returns to the real world, leaving Yumiko behind.
Yumiko is never found. Takeshi insists to the police that Yumiko disappeared playing "the game", but no one believes him and Yumiko's disappearance is filed away as a runaway case.
8 years later. The group hesitantly replays "the game", each grappling with his own guilt over Yumiko's disappearance. They join hands just as they did 8 years ago and begin the ritual, but nothing happens...
Then, inexplicably, one by one, the classmates start to disappear. Takeshi and the remaining friends begin investigating the mysterious legend behind "the game"...
Vanished official subsite
Pony Canyon: Vanished
Niraikanai kara no tegami official subsite (w/ trailer)
The Security Women Affair official webpage (viewer discretion is advised)
8.1 theatrical trailer (streaming Windows Media)
8.1 teaser trailer (streaming Windows Media)
8.1 official website
Yamada World (w/ trailers for Asoko no seki & @babymail)