Running Time: 68 Minutes
Starring: Marika Ito, Kai Inowaki, Riko Fujitani, Shintaro Kanamaru, Oshirō Maeda, Gota Ishida, Yoshifumi Sakai
For the past few years, Makoto Ueda has written two excellent time-related films which were directed by Junta Yamaguchi. Having both played at Fantasia Festival, River and Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes delivered inventive premises with genuine heart in their short runtimes. For his feature directorial debut, Ueda carries over those positives into the fascinatingly titled You Are The Film.
Viewers are introduced to scriptwriter Madoka (Marika Ito), who runs a theatre troupe that have been playing smaller shows above a bar. They are aiming high with their next show, intending to build their name by playing at a larger venue, but Madoka is struggling to write a script which can appeal to a wider audience. She is given the flyer for Sangenjaya Escape, an underseen film about a struggling musician, and seeks inspiration by going to watch the film in cinema.
The scene then cuts to Kazuma (Kai Inowaki), a struggling musician whose band struggles to sell tickets for their show, and spend their spare time drinking at a bar above a vintage shop. After a heated interaction with his guitarist, Kazuma is given the flyer for Shimokitazawa Exodus, a film about a female playwright in trouble. Wishing to take his mind off his troubles, the musician walks into the empty cinema screen with the film already playing. After a few remarks, Kazuma and Madoka realise their experiences are being viewed by the other on the big screen. They are the film for each other.
It is a fascinating premise in its own right, and Ueda never lets the film rest on its laurels. He allows the concept to evolve terrifically, offering playful ideas while also blending genres in this entertaining mixture. In lesser hands, it could feel like a tonally confused mess, but there is a confidence in the handling which allows emotional truths to stand tall while still having fun. Plus, it never gets old to see our primary characters making confused faces in the background, shocked by the unexpected revelations unfolding before them.
Ueta's direction helps bring these moments alive, with long takes giving scenes a fluidity which makes for an engrossing watch. Anchoring the story are the terrific lead performances, with Marika Ito and Kai Inowaki sharing great chemistry even while cinema screens separate them. After reacting with bewilderment to the strange circumstances, they join forces to help each other through their situations to make the best possible futures a reality.
Part of their worries involves their passions, as they try to chase away fears of not succeeding. Adding to the worries are their colleagues, whose decisions may offer a stumbling block to realising their dreams. Their paths may diverge, but what remains important is the need for communication and understanding. Opening up can lead to truths shared in an empathetic fashion, and the chance to regroup can offer a new path forward.
Most of all, Ueda captures the joys of watching a film, the way it can offer an escape from tough times, and how it can brighten up one's day. At its heart, You Are The Film is an inventive and emotionally resonate work about the passions which make our hearts sing.
You Are The Film made its North American Premiere at Fantasia Festival 2026
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