| TIFF and AFM 2008 (TIFFCOM:Oct 22-24/ AFM:Nov 5-12) |
| SHOCHIKU Office at AFM 2008 |
SHOCHIKU Office at TIFFCOM 2008 |
Loews Hotel # 717
TEL: 1-310-899-4585 / FAX: 1-310-998-4724
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| Representative: |
Kiwamu SATO
(mobile: +81-90-8038-5276)
Satoko ISHIDA
(mobile: 1-310-309-7778)
Shion KOMATSU
(mobile:1-310-310-4832)
Takeya ITO
(mobile:1-310-309-7502)
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| Email: ibd@shochiku.co.jp |
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Stand: #13
TEL: +81-(0)80-3083-9384 |
| Representative: |
Kiwamu SATO
Satoko ISHIDA
Shion KOMATSU
Junko KAWAGUCHI
Chiyo MORI
Takeya ITO |
| Email: ibd@shochiku.co.jp |
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DEPARTURES
(Original title: Okuribito)
Directed by Yojiro Takita |
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Director: Yojiro Takita (ASHURA, When the Last Sword is Drawn, Secret)
Music: Joe Hisaishi (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, Spirited Away, HANABI, Sonatine)
Starring: Masahiro Motoki (The Bird People of China, GEMINI, GONIN)
Ryoko Hirosue (Secret, WASABI, Love Collage)
Daigo Kobayashi, who was a cellist in an orchestra which had just been dissolved, suddenly is thrown out onto the streets without a job and hope for life. Daigo decides to move back to his old hometown with his wife. However, his life is revived when he starts working as an "encoffineer." He cleans up the body, places the dead into the coffin, and sends the dead to the next world in the best way possible… he is the gatekeeper between life and death. The job is despised by his wife and the people around him, but through the "Deaths" that he encounters, he finally starts to find what "Life" is all about. |
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Genre: Drama
Running time: 131min |
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| TIFFCOM Screening Schedule |
| Oct 22nd(Wed) 18:45 @ Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 49F Screening Room1 |
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| AFM Screening Schedule |
| Nov. 6th(THU) 8:30am @ AMC Santa Monica 5 |
| Nov. 8th(SAT) 11:00am @ AMC Santa Monica 6
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ICHI
(original title: ICHI)
Directed by SORI |
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Director: SORI (VEXILLE, Ping Pong)
Starring: Haruka Ayase (The Magic Hour, Cyborg Girl, HERO)
Takao Osawa (Midnight Eagle, The Taste of Fish, Helen the Baby Fox)
Shidou Nakamura (Red Cliff, Letters from Iwo Jima, Yamato)
The story follows, Ichi, a lone blind shamisen-instrument player on the road, always facing people who treat her coldly and trying to take advantage of her. However, Ichi stands tall with dignity, and her emotions burst with action with the hidden sword in the walking cane that she swings to fight back. When she is involved in a battle within two yakuza groups, she realizes love for the first time and the border between life and death. |
Genre: Action / Samurai
Running time: 118min |
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THE CHERRY ORCHARD - BLOSSOMING
(Original title: Sakura no Sono)
Directed by Shun Nakahara |
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Director: Shun Nakahara (The Cherry Orchard, Tomie: The Final Chapter-
Forbidden Fruit)
Starring: Saki Fukuda (Yatterman, “Life”-TV Series)
Anne (fashion model for Anna Sui, Louis Vuitton)
Love,dreams,passion,friendship…
Six high school girls discover their own “Cherry Orchard.”
Remake of a hit film from 1990, "The Cherry Orchard" which Nakahara himself directed, based on a popular comic book from Akimi Yoshida. The story takes place at a prestigious girls high school where everyone is oppressed with rules. One girl who just transfers to this school finds a long lost script of Anton Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" which was banned from school 11 years ago. Breaking strict school rules and boundaries, she and her friends decide to perform the play. With sentiment, love, and passion, the girls cherish the moment of their life before taking the next step towards adulthood. |
Genre: Drama
Running time: 102min |
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| TIFF Official Screening schedule |
| Oct. 21st(TUE) 19:00 (opens 18:30) @ TOHO CINEMAS ROPPONGI HILLS SCREEN 7 |
*There will be greetings from the stage for about 15 minutes before screening.
*Please contact a Shochiku sales representative in advance to attend the TIFF screening. |
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| TIFF ID screening schedule
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| Oct. 21st(TUE) 11:10 @ TOHO CINEMAS ROPPONGI HILLS SCREEN 4 |
| *If you don't have a TIFF ID, please contact a Shochiku sales representative in advance to attend TIFF ID screening. |
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| TIFFCOM screening schedule |
| Oct. 22nd(WED) 16:45 @ Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 49F Screening Room 1 |
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CHEER CHEER CHEER!
(original title: Fure Fure Shojo)
Directed by Kensaku Watanabe |
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Director: Kensaku Watanabe (Loved Gun)
Starring: Yui Aragaki (Sky of Love),
Ayato Nagayama
Takashi Naito (ASHURA, Spirited Away - Voice, After Life)
Momoko (Yui Aragaki) is a quiet and lonely high school girl whose only passion is to cheer traditional cheer squad, but all she could gather were good for nothing guys who could not find places in school. They start the cheer squad with a disaster, but when they finally find the true meaning of "cheering" someone, their passion becomes power and gives strength to those that are cheered. |
Genre: Drama / Comedy
Running time: 114min |
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| TIFFCOM Screening Schedule |
| Oct. 22nd(WED) 18:00 @ Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 49F Screening Room 2
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MR. TADANO’S SECRET MISSION – FROM JAPAN WITH LOVE
(Original title: Tokumei Kakaricho Tadano Hitoshi Saigono Gekijo Ban)
Director: Hisashi Ueda |
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Director: Hisashi Ueda (“Hitoshi Tadano, the Extra Ordinary Assistant Manager” TV Series)
Starring: Katsunori Takahashi (“Hitoshi Tadano, the Extra Ordinary Assistant Manager” TV
Series)
Yuri Ebihara (famous fashion model in Japan)
Choi Hong Man (Korean Kickboxer)
Pathetic businessman turning sexy and strong at night, Tadano comes to the rescue !
Pathetic, lame and a typical Japanese businessman during day, but an undercover agent at night… Assistant manager Hitoshi Tadano cannot look more useless during working hours, but he has a second face at night. He is assigned by the CEO of the company to become an undercover troubleshooter on a secret mission to put shady business to rest. He fights his opponents with his incredible Bruce Lee skills, and gets information by making use of his jaw-dropping sexy body that girls cannot resist. The TV series which started in 2003 has become one of the top rated series, also becoming popular in many Asian territories. Tadano, now faces his largest opponent ever! |
Genre: Action / Comedy
Running Time: TBC |
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| TIFF Official Screening schedule |
| Oct. 23rd(THU) 20:00 (opens 19:30) @ TOHO CINEMAS ROPPONGI HILLS SCREEN 7
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*There will be greetings from the stage for about 15 minutes before screening.
*Please contact a Shochiku sales representative in advance to attend the TIFF screening. |
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| TIFF ID screening schedule
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| Oct. 23rd(THU) 10:30 @ TOHO CINEMAS ROPPONGI HILLS SCREEN 4
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| *If you don't have a TIFF ID, please contact a Shochiku sales representative in advance to attend TIFF ID screening. |
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| TIFFCOM screening schedule |
| Oct. 24th(FRI) 8:50 @ Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 49F Screening Room 1
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PANDA DIARY
(original title: Pandaful Life)
Directed by Tadashi Mori |
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Director: Tadashi Mori (notable documentary director)
In the peaceful and happy life that the pandas seem to be leading, we see that they are not just cuddly and cute animals. With only 1,600 pandas left on earth, every minute of their life is important, and every second leads to their next generation. Co-produced with China, it is the first time to be able to shoot the new born baby panda in the mother's arms. Spending over a year of shooting to follow each pandas, we were able to shoot an extremely rare material on the "way of life" for the pandas, and what they face. A warm feeling and a prayer for the future on earth will sure to follow after watching this documentary. |
Genre: Documentary / Animal
Running time: 99min |
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| TIFFCOM screening schedule |
| Oct. 23rd(THU) 9:00 @ Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 49F Screening Room 2 |
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| AFM screening schedule |
Nov. 5th(WED) 7:00pm @ Fairmont 1
Nov. 6th(THU) 5:00pm @ Le Merigot 2 |
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KITARO AND THE MILLENNIUM CURSE
(Original title: Gegege no Kitaro Sennen Noroi Uta)
Directed by Katsuhide Motoki |
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Director: Katsuhide Motoki (KITARO, 10 Promises to My Dog)
Starring: Eiji Wentz (KITARO, Brave Story - Voice)
Kie Kitano (Speed Master, “Life” – TV Series)
Ken Ogata (Love and Honor, A Long Wak)
A half human, half yokai/monster hero Kitaro and his buddies (performed by returning cast members), investigate a series of mysterious disappearance and finds out that it is somehow related to the curse caused by "forbidden love" which occurred 1,000 years ago. Behind these incidents, was the conspiracy plotted by the evil yokai and his followings. Kitaro and his friend must collect 5 treasures to stop the curse, and also fight against evil to shutter the vicious cycle. Will he be able to bring love and peace to the world? |
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| TIFFCOM screening schedule |
| Oct. 23rd(THU) 11:00 @ Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 49F Screening Room 2 |
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| AFM screening schedule |
Nov. 7th(FRI) 7:00pm @ Le Merigot 2
Nov. 8th(SAT) 7:00pm @ Fairmont 1
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Genre:Action / Fantasy
Running time: 119min |
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MONSTER X STRIKES BACK - ATTACK THE G8 SUMMIT!
(Original title: Guilala no Gyakushu - Toyako Samitto Kiki Ippatsu)
Directed by Minoru Kawasaki |
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Director: Minoru Kawasaki (The World Sinks Except Japan, The Calamari Wrestler)
Starring: Natsuki Kato (Battle Royal II: Requiem), Kazuki Kato (Masked Rider the Next, “Hotaruno Hikari”– TV series)
Guest appearance by Beat Takeshi (Achilles and the Tortoise, Zatoichi, Takeshi’s)
In the summer of 2008, the G8 summit is being held at Lake Toya, a beautiful resort near the volcano in Hokkaido. At the same time, the Chinese rocket falls into Japan, causing the monster to be born from the spore attached to the rocket. The monster, Guilala, moves toward the summit conference site for the pursuit of volcanic energy. Now the world leaders have to terminate Guilala to show their country's prestige. First mission is missile attack by Japan, then Italy, Germany and... Deadly combat between human beings and the monster from outer space continues, but just when everyone starts to give up, two journalists finds a strange group worshipping the traditional "idol" at the lakeside. |
Genre: Monster / Political Satire
Running time: 98min |
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| TIFFCOM screening schedule |
| Oct. 23rd(THU) 9:00 @ Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 49F Screening Room 2 |
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| AFM Screening Schedule |
Nov. 5th(WED) 1:00pm @ Le Merigot 3
Nov. 9th(SUN) 7:00pm @ Fairmont 3
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MASTER OF MARTIAL HEARTS
(Original title: Zettai Shogeki Platonic Heart)
Directed by Yoshitaka Fujimoto |
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Director: Yoshitaka Fujimoto (Girls High)
A sexy girls' battle action animation is born!
Beautiful high school girls gracefully fight heated battles in sexy costumes such as flight attendant, doctor, nurse, police officer, maid, secretary etc…Their goal is to win the legendary treasure called "Platonic Heart" which is known for making all your wishes come true. The hard core martial arts battle breaks out to fight over the mysterious treasure!!! Is there a relation between the secret of "Platonic Heart" and missing friends? Why do they have to fight? Who is behind this? When all the questions are answered, there awaits a shocking ending. |
Genre: Animation (OVA) / Action / Erotic
Running time: 30min x 5 episodes |
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KAMOGAWA HORUMO - Battle League in Kyoto (working title)
(Original title: Kamogawa Horumo)
Director: Katsuhide Motoki |
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Director: Katsuhide Motoki (KITARO, Kitaro and the Millennium Curse, 10 Promises to My Dog)
Starring:Takayuki Yamada (Crows: Episode 0, Train Man)
Chiaki Kuriyama (The Sky Crawlers- voice, Battle Royale, Kill Bill Vol.1)
Sei Ashina (Silk)
A big hit fantasy novel by Manabu Makime has finally been adapted into a combat action comedy film with VFX and animation by GONZO (creators of “Afro Samurai,” “Brave Story”)
.The story is about a group of university students who inevitably gets involved in playing a game of "Horumo" - a combat match where each person manipulates 100 spirits (referred to as "oni") to fight the opponent. Akira Abe, a freshman at Kyoto University student falls for his classmate Kyoko, and soon ends up at a mysterious club called “Kyoto University Azure Dragons", which turns out to be one of the Horumo teams playing the mysterious (and somewhat absurd) game which started over 1,200 years ago in the Heian period.
The heat rises as you see the 2,000 CGI created spirits wage fierce battles against the backdrop of breathtaking beautiful city of Kyoto.
Let the battle begin! |
Genre: FANTASY / ACTION / GAME
Running time: TBC |
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CHILDREN OF THE DARK
(Original title: Yami no Kodomo-tachi)
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Written and Directed by Junji Sakamoto (Aegis, FACE)
Based on the novel “Children of the Dark” by Yan Sogil (Blood and Bones)
Starring: Yusuke Eguchi (Silk, Synesthesia)
Aoi Miyazaki (Eureka, Synesthesia, NANA)
Satoshi Tsumabuki (Dororo, Josee, the Tiger and the Fish)
In the darkest corners of Thailand, child prostitution and organ sales flourish. In order to save a child's life, another life must be taken. An outraged Japanese journalist and a passionate young Japanese NGO member attempt to save "children of the dark" from being consumed by arrogance and greed. However, the harsh realities of life intervene... Adapting Yan Sogil's novel which unflinchingly portrays the tragic realities unfolding today, filmmaker Junji Sakamoto directs talented multinational casts to bring these stark events to life. |
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Genre: Drama
Running time:138min |
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KUNG FU KID
(Original title: Kung Fu Kun)
Directed by Issei Oda |
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Director: Issei Oda (Arch Angel)
Starring: Zhang Zhuang
Pinko Izumi (Learning Circle, “Oshin” series)
A great action entertainment of a little Kung-fu genius comes on screen. Enter the "Little" Dragon! A little Kung-fu genius, Kung Fu is blown away to Japan by his master from China to defeat the "last opponent" in order to be conferred full Mastership of Kung-Fu. Appealed by his spirit and charm, Tai Chi skilled Izumi and her grand daughter Reiko take care of Kung Fu, as he searches for his last opponent. When Reiko is abducted by evil organization, Kung Fu finally finds out who his last opponent is. His battle now begins! |
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Genre: Action / Comedy / Family
Running time: 98min |
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SHRILL CRIES OF SUMMER
(original title: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni)
Directed by Ataru Oikawa |
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Director: Ataru Oikawa(TOMIE, Apartment 1303)
Starring: Gouki Maeda, Rin Asuka, Airi Matsuyama
It is early summer, and Keiichi had just moved to a remote mountain village. As he becomes close friends with a group of cute girls, he starts enjoying his life in the village. However when he starts to become suspicious of the girls that Keiichi trusted may be deeply involved in successive murders that occur every summer, the situation around Keiichi gradually starts to turn. As if the girls' characters had completely changed, a sewing needle is found in his food, he is chased by mysterious men, and is involved in an accident which could have killed him. He could no longer trust anyone, and then... One mystery leads to another, bringing out a shockingly bloody ending!!! |
Genre: HORROR / THRILLER
Running time: 106min |
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SKETCH BOOK – Blooming Colors
(Original title: SKETCH BOOK – Full Colors)
Directed by Yoshimasa Hiraike |
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Director: Yoshimasa Hiraike (Solty Rei, Kaleido star)
From the creators of “Rosen Maiden”, “Basilisk”, “Hamtaro” and “Kyo Kara Maoh!”
A popular comic strip is now a TV animation series!
The story is about a high school girl, Sora Kajiwara, who enters high school and joins the art club. Sora always carries around a sketchbook to draw pictures of beautiful sceneries outside. She also loves to play with cats especially Mike who wanders around the campus. This animation beautifully captures the everyday life of Sora and her friends in the high school art club. Viewers will bring back memories of their own high school years! |
Genre: Animation
Running time: 30min×13 episodes |
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SUICIDE SONG
(original title: Densen Uta)
Director: Masato Harada |
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Director: Masato Harada (Kamikaze Taxi, Bounce ko GALS)
Starring: Ryuhei Matsuda (Gohatto, NANA, Big Bang Love, Juvenile A)
Yusuke Iseya (Casshern, Sea Without Exit, Sukiyaki Western, Blindness)
From the creator of "One Missed Call" comes the terrifying story of a suicide song based on a true story! "The Suicide Song" follows the motif of "Gloomy Sunday" which was known as the 'Hungarian suicide song' in the 1930's. Kana, a high-school girl, suddenly commits suicide at her school. Her friend Anzu witnesses this disastrous scene, she hears Kana humming a strange song. Meanwhile, Riku, editor of a sensationalist magazine, hears a rumor about a 'suicide song'. Riku and Anzu encounter each other and try to stop the vicious cycle of continuous suicides. Suicides occur one after another, and just when it seems the mystery has become hopelessly complex, Anzu becomes aware of what the song means. Does that song convey despair or hope? |
Genre: HORROR
Running time: 128 min |
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MIDNIGHT EAGLE
(original title: MIDNIGHT EAGLE)
Director: Izuru Narushima |
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Director: Izuru Narushima (Fly, Daddy, Fly, The Hunter and the Hunted)
Starring: Takao Osawa (Helen the Baby Fox, Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World)
Yuko Takeuchi (Ring, Heaven's Bookstore)
Hiroshi Tamaki (Waterboys, Heavenly Forest)
In the skies above the severe winter conditions of the Northern Alps, a top secret American forces' stealth bomber "Midnight Eagle" suddenly vanishes. Its payload is a "specialized warhead." If it were to explode, the entire nation of Japan would be hurled into an unprecedented calamity. An ex-war photographer Nishizaki accidentally encounters the incident, and gets behind the scene, preventing the weapon to fall into the wrong hands. |
Genre: ACTION
Running time: 130min |
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FRANZ KAFKA'S A COUNTRY DOCTOR
(original Title: Kafka Inaka Isha)
Director: Koji Yamamura |
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Director: Koji Yamamura ("Mt. Head" Oscar Nomination 2003, Annecy 2003 Grand Prix)
Based on famed Jewish-Czech writer Franz Kafka's short prose, "A Country Doctor" from 1919. A hapless country doctor describes with breathless urgency a night-time summons to attend a young patient. Events soon take on a surreal aspect as "unearthly horses" transport him instantaneously to the bedside. The doctor, preoccupied with personal distractions and grievances against those he is employed to care for, fails to find what is revealed to be a vile, fatal wound. He is humiliated by the villagers who are "always expecting the impossible from the doctor, " and doomed to an endless return trip, losing everything. |
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Genre: Animation
Running time: 21min |
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