20 November 2014, Singapore – “Five Minutes to Tomorrow” is a romantic mystery that depicts the sadness of lost souls. It is adapted from Takayoshi Honda’s novel of the same title. Reading the book, I was entranced by the unique worldview imparted through the depictions of identical twin sisters who are in love with the same man, and a man who lives his life according to a clock that is set five minutes late. However, I was most inspired by the portrayal of a lonely man who is intrigued by a pair of beautiful and mysterious twin sisters.
Halfway through this film, the twin sisters get into an accident while on holiday, and only one survives. But is the woman that returns to her lover the right twin? What if they have switched places? As the protagonist’s suspicion grows, the film turns into a mystery in the vein of Hitchcock’s “Vertigo”. The concept behind this mystery – the trials and tribulations of a heart that loves someone – is what the greatest love stories are made of.
Director’s Statement
In order to heighten the mystery in this love story, the profession of the younger twin sister has been changed into an actress. By having an actor, a portray-er of fiction, play a character who may also be pretending, this is a further attempt to keep the audience guessing.
This film will distill the essence of the original novel and its events, and add some dramatic flourishes. This will not be a film through which the viewer finds the truth, or an answer. I hope to create a work that exposes the true nature of human foolishness and what it means to love.
Casts:
Haruma Miura (三浦春馬)
Miura is a Japanese actor and singer and gained popularity in Gokusen 3 and the 2007 film Koizora. Following his increasing popularity, he starred as the lead role for the first time in a drama in based on the popular manga, Bloody Monday, in 2008 in which he played a genius computer hacker trying to prevent the release of a biological virus from a terrorist organization.
Miura made debuted in the NHK drama Agri when he was seven. He was enrolled at Tsukuba Actor’s Studio and whilst he was still acting, formed Brash Brats with two other students. When Tsukuba Actor’s Studio closed down, Miura and his bandmates joined Amuse agency.
Miura soon gained recognition following several dramas such as Fight. During this time, Brash Brats went on hiatus, while Miura continued his acting career. He was cast in the movie Koizora in 2007, which was based on a popular cell phone novel. The same year, he was cast in the movie Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge starring Hayato Ichihara. In 2008, he starred opposite Juri Ueno in Naoko and won the Sponichi Grand Prix Newcomer Award in the 63rd Mainichi Film Awards in 2009 for his role. He also was given a newcomer award in the 31st Japan Academy Awards on February 15, 2008. Miura then went to star in dramas such as Binbō Danshi and the third season of Gokusen as major supporting characters.
In February 2009, he was one of the recipients of a newcomer award in the 2009 Elan d’or Awards. Miura starred in Crows Zero II, which is the sequel to Crows Zero. From June to July 2009, Miura starred in his first stage production entitled Hoshi no Daichi ni Furu Namida. Miura played a leading role in Shinji Aoyama’s 2011 film Tokyo Park.
Cecilia Liu Shi Shi (劉詩詩)
Cecilia Liu, is a Chinese actress and ballerina. In 2012, she won the “Magnolia Award” (白玉蘭獎) for the most popular actress for her role in Chinese time-travel drama Scarlet Heart.
Having been trained in ballet at the Beijing Dance Academy, Liu Shishi made her acting debut on the television drama series The Moon and the Wind (2005) in a leading role. She received acclaim for her performances in The Young Warriors (2006) and The Fairies of Liaozhai (2007). She rose to fame for her role as Mu Nianci in The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2008), and guest-starred as her character’s descendant in The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (2009). Her role as Long Kui in Chinese Paladin 3 broke her previous typecasting as a “gentle, kind, and understanding maiden. The portrayal for her character’s gradual development from unruliness to maturity, giving both fans and critics a taste of her versatility and growing competence in challenging roles.
In 2011, Liu hit the jackpot with two successful dramas. She played the thief Yan Sanniang in action drama The Vigilantes In Masks. She donned the part of Ma’ertai Ruoxi (Zhang Xiao) in Scarlet Heart and has won various awards for her role. Liu also made her singing debut for the soundtrack of Scarlet Heart. Her feature film debut in the inspirational The Next Magic (2011), directed by Taiwanese filmmaker Zhuo Li,saw a transition from her usual genre of period drama. She has also filmed Scarlet Heart 2, a sequel of Scarlet Heart.
Joseph Chang Hsiao-Chuan (張孝全)
Joseph Chang is a Taiwanese actor best known for his role in the critically acclaimed Taiwanese film Eternal Summer (2006), which earned him two Golden Horse Awards nominations for Best Supporting Actor and Best New Performer. He was also nominated in 2006, for Best Leading Actor in a Mini-series at the 41st Golden Bell Awards and Best Leading Actor in a TV Series in the 46th Golden Bell Awards. In 2012, he won the Best Actor award at the 14th Taipei Film Festival.
Director : Isao Yukisada (行定勲)
Isao Yukisada is a Japanese director and writer, known for his works such as Crying Out Love in the Center of the World (2004), Go (2001) and Parade (2009).
In 2001 his outstanding film, Go! , it has earned him the Hochi Film Award for Best Film and the Nikkan Sports Film Award for Best Director. In 2002, the film also earned him the Best Director title for 3 different awards such as the Award of the Japanese Academy, Blue Ribbon Award and Kinema Junpo Award. Go! also won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in 2002. His other highly-acclaimed works include Cryng Out Love, In The Centre Of The World and Kita no Zeronen (2005) which he was nominated as Best Director at the Award of the Japanese Academy.
FILM DETAILS
Film: Five Minutes To Tomorrow深夜前的五分钟
Director: Isao Yukisada
Casts: Haruma Miura, Cecilia Liu Shi Shi, Joseph Chang
Genre: Romance/Mystery
Language: Mandarin & Japanese (with English & Chinese subtitles)
Duration: 126 mins
Rating: PG
Watch Five Minutes To Tomorrow Trailer here:
