The Magic Hour (2008 film)

The Magic Hour (ザ・マジックアワー) is a 2008 Japanese film written and directed by Kōki Mitani.

The Magic Hour
Japanese poster
Directed byKōki Mitani
Written byKōki Mitani
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • June 7, 2008 (2008-06-07)
CountryJapan
Box office¥3.92 billion (Japan)[1]
$300,475 (overseas)[2]

According to photography experts, "the golden hour, sometimes called the 'magic hour', is roughly the first hour of light after sunrise, and the last hour of light before sunset, although the exact duration varies between seasons. During these times the sun is low in the sky, producing a soft, diffused light which is much more flattering than the harsh midday sun."[3]

In photography and cinematography, the magic hour is only a moment and the most beautiful time of the day, when afterglow of a sunset lights up around. By extension in this film, it means "the most glittering years of everyone's life".

Overview
  • This film marks film director Kon Ichikawa's last appearance and was dedicated in his memory. (This message can be seen in the end of this film.) In this film, movie director played by Kon Ichikawa is shooting Kuroi Hyaku-ichi-nin no Onna, a parody of Kuroi Ju-nin no Onna. (discussed later)
  • Shingo Katori who played in The Uchōten Hotel makes a cameo appearance as the same role in this film.
  • There are three short short films within a film.
  • With regards to its cinematic impact on Japanese and Asian cinema, The Magic Hour was nominated for the 2009 Japanese Academy Awards in eight categories (best actor, best art direction, best director, best editing, best film, best film score, best screenplay, best sound) and for the 2009 Asian Film Awards in three categories (best actress, best production designer, best screenwriter).[4]

Plot summary

When a low-level gangster (Satoshi Tsumabuki) is caught having an affair with his boss's wife (Eri Fukatsu), he pleads for his life by promising his boss (Toshiyuki Nishida) that he will recruit a famous hitman. When it quickly becomes apparent that he is never going to find the wanted hitman, he hires an actor (Kōichi Satō) to fill the role.[5]

For much of the movie, the actor playing the hitman believes that he has been hired to play a part in a seemingly arcane gangster movie, and interacts with the other gangsters as though they are also hired actors. At times, this puts his employer (Satoshi Tsumabuki) in a precarious position.

Cast

References
  1. "Movies With Box Office Gross Receipts Exceeding 1 Billion Yen". Eiren. Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan. 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  2. "The Magic Hour". Box Office Mojo.
  3. "The Golden Hour in Photography"
  4. The Magic Hour Awards on IMDB
  5. Mitani gets ready to produce "Magic Hour" at Kaiju Shakedown
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