"The Man Who Almost Died" Director Seiji Tanaka x Katamari Mizukawa: Creating a role that reflects his everyday self [Director's Interview Vol. 472]

Director Seiji Tanaka's latest work, whose debut feature film " Melancholic " (2019) was critically acclaimed, tells the story of a scriptwriter who fails to die and the ghost that haunts him. Katamari Mizukawa of Kuuki Kaidan is chosen to play the main character, the scriptwriter. What kind of film has this unpredictable combination of director, lead actor, and story produced? We spoke to Director Seiji Tanaka and Katamari Mizukawa.

Synopsis of "The Man Who Almost Died"

Scriptwriter Sekiya Ippei (Mizukawa Katamari) dreamed of becoming a comedian, and just as his dream came true, he was exhausted by the brutal society and unrewarding days. He decided to jump off the train platform, but a fatal accident occurred at the next station. Unfortunately, Ippei missed his chance to die, and a ghost of a man (Masame Bokuzo) appeared before him and made a shocking request. "Can you kill the man (Kiyabu Yutaka) who is stalking my daughter (Karata Erika)?" The ghost threatened to haunt him until he killed the man. What was the strange fate that awaited the man who missed his chance to die?

Index

• Why was the main character a scriptwriter?
• The usual Mizukawa Katamari turns into Sekiya Ippei
• In the movies, you won't get in trouble if you make a mess!
• The amazingness of Toshiyuki Itakura, the skit supervisor

Why was the main character a scriptwriter?

Q: What was your impression when you received the offer?

Mizukawa: I thought it was a prank. At first, there was no proposal or script, and I only had a schedule for a "starring role in a movie." When I was given a job that sounds like a lie, it was usually a prank. I thought it was something like that, but then my manager handed me the script and said, "It's serious," and when I read it, it was funny. I thought that a script that was so complete was definitely not a dummy for a prank (laughs). On the first day of filming, the equipment and number of staff were at a level that made me think, "This isn't fake," so it was the first time I realized that it was 100% real.

Q: Why was Mizukawa chosen for the role of the main character, Sekiya Ippei?

Tanaka: The first people mentioned in the casting meeting were the so-called well-known actors. When I imagined Sekiya Ippei among them, I realized that this movie was the type of work that would lose its appeal if cast in the usual way. At that time, the producer suggested, "What about a comedian?" and Mizukawa's name was among the candidates. So I said, "Out of all of these, it definitely has to be Mizukawa!" It felt like we decided to ask a comedian and Mizukawa at the same time.

"The Man Who Almost Died" ©2024 "The Man Who Almost Died" Film Production Committee

Q: Why did you decide to make the main character a scriptwriter and set the story in the world of comedy?

Tanaka: I thought it would be more dramatic to have someone like a scriptwriter who is inexperienced in fighting respond to the order to kill someone. Also, I love Woody Allen, and in the movie " Danny Rose " (1984), Allen plays the role of a comedian's manager. The theme of that movie and this movie were similar, so I set this movie in the world of comedy.

Mizukawa: I usually have many opportunities to talk with scriptwriters and I know what they do, so it was very easy to work with them. There are comedians in the film, and I felt relieved in the scenes with them (laughs).

The usual Mizukawa Katamari turns into Sekiya Ippei