Update on Takashi Miike's BIG BANG LOVE, JUVENILE A (46-OKUNEN NO KOI), starring Ryûhei Matsuda, Ma

At the bottom of this article is a link to Russell Edwards' review in Variety of Takashi Miike's Big Bang Love, Juvenile A (46-okunen no koi). The movie is being screened at the 56th Berlin International Film Festival - a.k.a. the Berlinale.

As was previously reported here and there on ScreenAnarchy, the screenplay for Big Bang Love, Juvenile A was written by Masa Nakamura, based on the novel Shônen A erejî by "Ato Masaki" - a joint pen-name of Ikki Kajiwara (1936-1987) and his younger brother Hisao Maki. The movie stars Ryûhei Matsuda, Masanobu Andô, Renji Ishibashi, Ken'ichi Endô, Shunsuke Kubozuka (Kuboduka Shunsuke), Kiyohiko Shibukawa (a.k.a. Kee), and Ryô Ishibashi.

Here's a synopsis [WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS] for Big Bang Love, Juvenile A from this page for the movie on the Berlinale website: "Jun Ariyoshi works in a gay bar. One night, one of the customers pesters him and a terrible fight breaks out during which Jun kills the man. Jun does not show the slightest sign of remorse and is put in prison. One of the inmates is a young man named Shiro Kazuki, who wears strange-looking tattoos and whose remarkably penetrating looks can kill. ¶ From the outset, Shiro makes brutality and violence his trademark and, as a result, soon makes his way up the hierarchy of those behind bars. Jun, who is more introverted, feels drawn by Shiro's strength and decisiveness. Shiro accepts Jun because he is the only one on the inside who sees him for what he is. They gradually become friends, and then, a couple. Determined to let nothing and no one come between them. ¶ Then, however, an incident occurs. A prison warder is witness to a young man strangling another prisoner with all his might in the communal hall. Shortly afterwards, the victim breathes his last. It is Shiro. The young prisoner turns around. The guard observes the inmate's tear-stained face as he admits: 'I did it.' It is Jun. ¶ Japanese director Takashi Miike is well known for films that make a decisive break with taboos and conventions, and for his ruthlessly graphic portrayal of violence. In this film, however, he is also keen to find an explanation for the outbreak of violence. What could have caused Jun's terrible deed?"

Miike's other upcoming movies include Masters of Horror: Imprint and Waru (working title: "Waru: Final"). The latter is based on the 3-volume gekiga Waru: saishû-shô (vol. 1, vol. 2, vol. 3) by Maki (story) and Jôya Kagemaru (drawings).

Variety: Review of Big Bang Love, Juvenile A
ShochikuFilms.com: Big Bang Love, Juvenile A