The Blue Hearts (2017 Film)
The Blue Hearts (Japanese: ブルーハーツが聴こえる, Hepburn: Blue Hearts ga kikoeru) is a 2017 Japanese omnibus film. The project consists of six distinct short films, each directed by a different filmmaker who selected a favorite song by the influential Japanese punk rock band The Blue Hearts as the thematic inspiration for their segment.
Segments and Directors
The film features six segments, each helmed by a different director and writer:
- Hammer: Directed and written by Ken Iizuka.
- Be Kind To Others: Directed by Ten Shimoyama, written by Ten Shimoyama and Shigeki Suzuki.
- Love Letter: Directed and written by Noboru Iguchi.
- A Boy’s Song: Directed by Takashi Shimizu, written by Takashi Shimizu and Kenta Ishikawa.
- Frozen Expectations: Directed by Shinichi Kudo, written by Masatoshi Nagase.
- 1001 Violins: Directed by Sang-il Lee, written by Kensaku Kojima.
Cast
The omnibus features a large ensemble cast across its segments, including notable Japanese actors such as Machiko Ono, Hayato Ichihara, Takumi Saito, Masatoshi Nagase, and Etsushi Toyokawa.
Production and Release
The film was distributed by T-Joy and released in Japan on April 8, 2017. It has a total runtime of 159 minutes.