GACHI BOY WRESTLING WITH A MEMORY

GACHI BOI

(Japan, 2008, 120 mins)

35mm

Cast: Ryuta Sato, Saeko, Osamu Mukai, Riisa Naka
Producers: Masahiko Oda, Chikahiro Ando, Naomi Akashi
Executive Producers: Chihiro Kameyama, Shuji Abe, Yoshishige Shimatani
Director of Photography: Takahito Kasai
Editor: Hiroaki Morishita
Music: Naoki Sato
Original Story: Ryuta Horai

Every morning, the 20-year-old law student Igarashi (Ryuta Sato) wakes up able to remember only a portion of his life—the part that happened prior to a bicycle accident that damaged his frontal cortex and temporal lobe. Resorting to copious notes and Polaroids, Igarashi tries to cull together some semblance of continuity to his life that will validate and confirm his existence. But he's unable to succeed at his studies. He does, however, find a possible solution in his school’s pro wrestling club. Collegiate pro wrestling differs from “real” pro wrestling in that it focuses on the entertainment and comedic, storytelling aspects of the sport—aspects that enthrall Igarashi to no end. Seeing this as an opportunity to feel alive again, he joins up and is openly welcomed by the club, which has seen its popularity dwindle. Unaware of Igarashi’s condition, the club members are mystified at his inability to learn even the simplest staging, and when his much anticipated debut match comes along, Igarashi ends up improvising most of it, to the great delight of viewers. Soon, he has drawn a large following and is single-handedly boosting the club’s popularity to an all-time high. Just when he seems to have overcome his fate, Igarashi is dealt another challenging blow. This surprisingly poignant yet wildly funny comedy—an audience favorite at several international festivals (Grand Prix at the Udine Far East Film Festival)—immediately puts young director Norihiro Koizumi on the map.

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