December (2022 film)

2022 Japanese film

December

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Anshul Chauhan
Screenplay by|

* Rand Cotler
* Mina Moteki

Story by| Anshul Chauhan
Produced by|

* Anshul Chauhan
* Mina Moteki
* Takahiro Yamashita

Starring|

* Shogen
* Megumi
* Ryō Matsuura

Cinematography| Peter Moen Jensen
Edited by| Anshul Chauhan
Music by| Yuma Koda

Production
companies

* Kowatanda Films
* Yaman Films

Release date

| 7 October 2022 (Busan)

Running time

| 99 minutes
Country| Japan
Language| Japanese

December (赦し, Yurushi) is a 2022 Japanese legal drama film directed by Anshul Chauhan that stars Shogen, Megumi, and Ryō Matsuura.[1] The film follows the subject of juvenile offenders[2] and a girl who gets a retrial after being sentenced to life in prison for a murder she committed at the age of seventeen.[3]

## Cast[edit]

* Shogen as Emi's father and Sumiko's ex-husband, Katsu[4]
* Megumi as Emi's mother and Katsu's ex-wife, Sumiko
* Ryō Matsuura as Kana Fukuda
* Shingo Fujimori
* Takashi Kawaguchi
* Tôru Kizu as Takumi Sato, Kana's lawyer
* Kanon Narumi as Emi Higuchi
* Takuzo Shimizu
* Miki Maya

## Production[edit]

December began production in Tokyo and was shot in Japan's Kanagawa and Ibaraki prefectures.[5]

## Release[edit]

December was nominated for the Grand Prix Award for Best Film at the Osaka Asian Film Festival[6][7] and the Kim Jiseok Award at the 27th Busan International Film Festival.[4]

SC Films International helped to distribute the film internationally.[2]

## Reception[edit]

Panos Kotzathanasis of Asian Movie Pulse praised the film stating that, "December is an excellent film that works on a number of levels and [is] definitely Chauhan's best as of yet." Simon Crowe, an executive producer of December, stated that, “After a wave of Scandinavia programming, and now most recently Korean films and television with Parasite, Snowpiercer, Train To Busan and record-breaking series Squid Game, we believe Japanese programming could be the next big thing. Not just anime, but film and television after Drive My Car, Gensan Punch, and now December.”[8]

Roxy Simons of View of the Arts rated the film a 4 out of 5 and stated that, "December is a human drama, and so much of the emotional strife that viewers feel is a result of the pain depicted by the film’s main trio."[9]

Emma Steen of Time Out Tokyo stated that, "As for the production itself, Chauhan's latest cinematic work is a courtroom drama that is not only exquisitely filmed – courtesy of Peter Jensen’s cinematography – but also captivates the audience as it grapples with the fine line between justice and revenge."[10]

Richard Gray of The Reel Bits rated the film a 4 out of 5, stating that, "Anshul Chauhan delivers another understated character study, which works in part due to the stellar performances and a measured understanding of the tensions that lay just beneath the surface of human interaction."[11]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Schilling, Mark (2023-03-09). "'December': Powerful courtroom drama serves up shades of gray". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
2. ^ a b Hopewell, John (2022-04-28). "'Gensan Punch' Star, Producer Reteam with SC Films for 'December' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
3. ^ Baker, Richard. "December". SC Films International. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
4. ^ a b Teresa, Maria (2022-10-15). "BIFF Interview: Shogen, Nominee of Jiseok Awards 2 Years in a Row". Haps Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
5. ^ Brzeski, Patrick (2022-02-13). "Berlin: Japan-Based Filmmaker Anshul Chauhan Preps Court Room Drama 'December'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
6. ^ Jason, Genki (2023-03-12). "December 赦し (2022) Director: Anshul Chauhan [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2023]". Genkinahito. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
7. ^ "December｜OAFF2023｜Competition". www.oaff.jp. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
8. ^ Kotzathanasis, Panos (2022-10-08). "Film Review: December (2022) by Anshul Chauhan". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
9. ^ Arts, View of the (2023-04-28). "25th Far East Film Festival: "December" Review". VIEW OF THE ARTS. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
10. ^ Steen, Emma (2023-04-05). "Now showing: Anshul Chauhan's 'December' is a compelling tale about grief and retribution". Time Out Tokyo. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
11. ^ Gray, Richard (2023-07-21). "Review: December [NYAFF 2023]". The Reel Bits. Retrieved 2023-08-07.

## External links[edit]

* December at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Anshul Chauhan

* Bad Poetry Tokyo (2018)
* Kontora (2019)
* December (2022)

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