Bozo

Set in Nagano Prefecture, the movie stars Shingo Mizusawa (8000 Miles) as an awkward 28-year-old temporary factory worker named Kaji; a character partially modeled after the perpetrator of the 2008 Akihabara massacre. His social interactions are limited to his postings on internet message boards until he starts hanging out with a co-worker named Tanaka (Shohei Uno) who suffers from the debilitating sleep disorder narcolepsy. The pair become involved in a predicament when they attempt to protect a girl named named Yuri (Ai Tamura) from their other co-worker Okada (Yasushi Fuchikami).

Directed by Tatsushi Ōmori, Bozo leans on a strong ensemble — Shingo Mizusawa, Yasushi Fuchikami, Shohei Uno — 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 2013.