Source: Kadokawa Pictures Official Site: puzzle-movie.jp (Japan)
Theatrical poster for PUZZLE featuring the film`s stars, Kaho and Shuhei Nomura. Image courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2014 PUZZLE Production CommitteeA boy feels an intense connection to a girl holding a deep darkness within her heart. When the lives of these two people overlap, the last piece fits into place and reality becomes distorted... A new film adaptation of Yusuke Yamada`s runaway bestseller; a masterpiece of movie madness! PUZZLE (???, Pazuru), the new thriller from Kadokawa, will open at the Human Trust Cinema Shibuya, Cine Libre Umeda, 109 Cinemas Nagoya, and other theaters across Japan on Saturday, March 8th. The film is based on the 2004 novel of the same name by Yusuke Yamada, previously adapted as a four episode series that aired on TV Asahi in 2007. PUZZLE is directed by Eisuke Naito, whose short film LET`S MAKE THE TEACHER HAVE A MISCARRIAGE CLUB (?????????, Sensei o Ryuuzan sa Seru-Kai) played at international festivals in 2012. The cast is headlined by actress/model Kaho (GAMERA THE BRAVE, TRICK THE MOVIE: PSYCHIC BATTLE ROYAL, TIME SCOOP HUNTER) and rising star Shuhei Nomura (PHONE CALL TO THE BAR, DAILY LIVES OF HIGH SCHOOL BOYS), with Kazuya Takahashi (SHIELD OF STRAW) and Kokone Sasaki (YAKUZA WEAPON, HELLO MY DOLLY GIRLFRIEND) in supporting roles. Kaho plays Azusa Nakamura, a student at Noriaki Hall High School who leaps from the building`s roof in an apparent suicide attempt. The act is witnessed by another student, Shigeo Yuasa (Shuhei Nomura). Shigeo visits Azusa whiles she convalescences, leaving behind an envelope containing a piece to a puzzle. Shortly after Azusa returns to class, the school is invaded and occupied by armed terrorists wearing bizarre masks. As the students and faculty struggle to survive the attackers` onslaught, Azusa realizes the puzzle piece holds the key to getting out alive.
Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2014 PUZZLE Production CommitteeCredits Japanese Theatrical Release Date: March 8, 2014 Running Time: 85 Minutes Aspect Ratio: Cinemascope Rating: R-15 + Cast Azusa Nakamura: Kaho Shigeo Yuasa: Shuhei Nomura Keiji Mitome: Kazuya Takahashi Chairman Takai: Baku Ohwada Mrs. Yuasa: Saori Yagi Teacher Yasuda: Kokone Sasaki Ryuzo Tanaka Kai Watanabe Keisuke Tomita Ryo Saeki Fumika Baba Ryota Yoshimitsu Staff Director: Eisuke Naito Original Novel: Puzzle by Yusuke Yamada (Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd) Screenplay: Makoto Sasaki, Eisuke Naito Executive Producer: Shinichiro Inoue Producers: Takeshi Yasuda, Masahiko Mizuguchi, Shu Onuma Supervising Producer: Shinji Ogawa Line Producer: Yoshihiro Suzuki Planning: Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Cinematographer: Yoko Itakura Lighting: Toshio Suzuki Sound Recording: Akira Fukada Art Director: Norifumi Ataka Editor: Masahiro Onaga Film Production: Bridgehead Co-Producer: Dragonfly Entertainment PUZZLE Production Committee: Kadokawa, Pony Canyon, Dentsu Distributor: Kadokawa Shoten Co., Ltd. © 2014 PUZZLE Production Committee
Azusa Nakamura (Kaho). Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2014 PUZZLE Production Committee<
Shigeo Yuasa (Shuhei Nomura). Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2014 PUZZLE Production Committee
Keiji Mitome (Kazuya Takahashi). Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2014 PUZZLE Production Committee
High school teacher, Ms. Yasuda (Kokone Sasaki). Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2014 PUZZLE Production Committee
Shigeo`s mom (Saori Yagi). Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2014 PUZZLE Production Committee
Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2014 PUZZLE Production Committee
Photo courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures. © 2014 PUZZLE Production Committee