Futon

Tokio Takenaka (48) is a scriptwriter who's lost his passion for his work, and whose relationship with his wife Madoka (37) has turned sour. He spends his days lost in a haze. One day, a girl named Yoshimi Yokoyama (21) barges into his office, saying that she's a huge fan of his work and aiming to be a scriptwriter herself. Overcome by her enthusiasm, he agrees to take her in. As they work together, he begins to sense her talent as a writer, and at the same time, comes to feel sexually attracted towards her. Soon he's writing scripts that he's proud of again, and begins to feel fulfilled in both his private and work lives. But it doesn't take long before he learns about her boyfriend and fellow scriptwriter Hideo Tanaka (20). He becomes madly jealous, but.

Directed by Shinpei Yamasaki, Futon leans on a strong ensemble — Yoichiro Saito, Mone Akitani, Reiko Kataoka — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2024.