Midnight Swan

Midnight Swan
Theatrical release poster
Kanjiミッドナイトスワン
Revised HepburnMiddonaito Suwan
Directed byEiji Uchida
Screenplay byEiji Uchida
Story byEiji Uchida
Produced byTakeshi Moriya
Starring
CinematographyMaki Ito
Edited byYuichi Iwakiri
Music byKeiichiro Shibuya
Production
company
Culen
Distributed byKino Films
Release date
  • September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)
Running time
124 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

Midnight Swan (ミッドナイトスワン, Middonaito Suwan) is a 2020 Japanese drama film directed by Eiji Uchida, who also wrote the screenplay.[1] It received nine nominations at the 44th Japan Academy Film Prize, including Director of the Year and Screenplay of the Year, winning for Picture of the Year, Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, and Newcomer of the Year.[2][3]

Plot

Nagisa is a transgender woman. Growing up as a man in Hiroshima, Nagisa faces prejudice and is ostracized by the society. She leaves Hiroshima and lives in Tokyo where she works as a dancer in a nightclub. Her distant niece, Ichika is a middle school student neglected by her mother. After being kicked out of her home, Ichika travels to Tokyo and starts living with Nagisa. Although initially reluctant, Nagisa takes care of Ichika and starts to develop feelings for her for the first time.

Cast

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 5 critics' reviews are positive.

Writing for The Japan Times, Mark Schilling gave the movie a positive review, calling it "a gloomy drama, with moments of realism and grace".[5] Matthew Hernon of the same publication praised the portrayal of transgender issues and individualism through dance.[1]

Accolades

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2020 45th Hochi Film Award Best New Actor Misaki Hattori Won [6]
Best Actor Tsuyoshi Kusanagi Nominated [7]
Nikkan Sports Film Award Best Newcomer Misaki Hattori Won [8]
Best Actor Tsuyoshi Kusanagi Nominated [9]
2021 63rd Blue Ribbon Awards Best Actor Tsuyoshi Kusanagi Won [10]
Best Director Eiji Uchida Nominated [11]
Best Newcomer Misaki Hattori Nominated
Best Picture Midnight Swan Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Asami Mizukawa and Sei Matobu Nominated
44th Japan Academy Film Prize Newcomer of the Year Misaki Hattori Won [3]
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Tsuyoshi Kusanagi Won
Picture of the Year Midnight Swan Won
Director of the Year Eiji Uchida Nominated [12]
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction Hiroyuki Agatsuma Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography Maki Ito Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction Shingo Inoue Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Recording Hironori Ito Nominated
Screenplay of the Year Eiji Uchida Nominated
30th Japanese Movie Critics Awards Best Newcomer Misaki Hattori Won [13]
Best Music Keiichiro Shibuya Nominated
75th Mainichi Film Awards Best Music Keiichiro Shibuya Won [14]
Best Actor Tsuyoshi Kusanagi Nominated [15][16]
Best Newcomer Misaki Hattori Nominated
23rd Far East Film Festival Golden Mulberry Award (Gelso d'Oro) Midnight Swan Won [17]

References

  1. ^ a b Hernon, Matthew (September 17, 2020). "'Midnight Swan' highlights transgender issues and self-expression through dance". The Japan Times. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  2. ^ Schilling, Mark (March 19, 2021). "Japan Academy Awards Hand Top Honor to Indie Hit 'Midnight Swan' While 'Fukushima 50' Triumphs". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "第44回『日本アカデミー賞』受賞結果一覧". Oricon. March 24, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  4. ^ "草なぎ剛主演「ミッドナイトスワン」に服部樹咲、水川あさみ、田口トモロヲ、真飛聖ら". Natalie. May 30, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  5. ^ Schilling, Mark (September 24, 2020). "'Midnight Swan': A gloomy drama, with moments of realism and grace". The Japan Times. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  6. ^ "【報知映画賞】服部樹咲「運命」の役で新人賞 １４歳鮮烈デビュー「存在感のある女優になりたい」". Sports Hochi. December 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  7. ^ "第45回報知映画賞ノミネート". Hochi Film Award. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  8. ^ "服部樹咲驚く新人賞 昨秋は普通の中学生／映画大賞". Nikkan Sports. December 28, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  9. ^ "日刊スポーツ映画大賞". Nikkan Sports. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  10. ^ "「第63回ブルーリボン賞」受賞作品&草なぎ剛、長澤まさみ、成田凌、伊藤沙莉ら受賞者発表". Oricon. February 24, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  11. ^ "ブルーリボン賞「浅田家！」が最多5部門ノミネート、作品賞には「鬼滅の刃」も". Natalie. January 4, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  12. ^ "第44回 日本アカデミー賞 最優秀賞一覧". Japan Academy Film Prize. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  13. ^ "日本映画批評家大賞 第30回受賞作品". Japanese Movie Critics Awards. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  14. ^ "毎日映画コンクール「MOTHER」の大賞受賞に大森立嗣が驚き、奥平大兼も駆け付ける". Natalie. February 17, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  15. ^ "日刊スポーツ映画大賞". Nikkan Sports. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  16. ^ "『毎日映画コンクール』ノミネート発表 草なぎ剛、高橋一生、蒼井優、長澤まさみらが候補入り". Oricon. December 23, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  17. ^ "MIDNIGHT SWAN (GIAPPONE) VINCE IL FAR EAST FILM FESTIVAL 23!". Far East Film Festival (in Italian). Retrieved July 5, 2021.