i WILL no LONGER dream OF flying

One evening, Ruriko uses her exceptional driving skills to save the hitman Ryōji from his pursuers. The following morning, at the request of her friend Terumi, who has repeatedly attempted suicide, she takes her out for a drive. However, when Atsushi—a man Terumi picked up at a club they stopped at—is murdered by an unknown assailant, the pair are suspected of the crime and find themselves on the run from the police. In reality, it was Ryōji who killed Atsushi. He had intended to steal a note detailing the hiding place of a large quantity of drugs that Atsushi was carrying, in order to embezzle the drugs from his organisation. However, as Ruriko and Terumi had taken the wallet containing the note, he now sets his sights on them. Meanwhile, Ruriko and Terumi, still on the run, are rushing to the port town where Terumi’s father lives.

Directed by Takeshi Watanabe, i WILL no LONGER dream OF flying leans on a strong ensemble — Reiko Takashima, Makiko Kuno, Shingo Tsurumi — 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 screen titles of 2002.