Dirt(y) Hero

Kohei Yamamura, a second-year high school student, has trouble fitting in and gets along poorly with his classmates. With the school sports festival approaching, everyone is caught up in the excitement, but Kohei keeps to himself, pretending to sleep at his desk while listening to the radio. Concerned about his constant clashes with Takahashi, the class clown, class representative Katada repeatedly tries to look out for Kohei. To Kohei, however, the attention is nothing but a nuisance. One day, Kohei has a chance encounter with Kakimoto, a homeless man.

Directed by Hideaki Takahashi, Dirt(y) Hero leans on a strong ensemble — Akiyoshi Nakao, Shinya Tsukamoto, Yōsuke Asari — 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 family titles of 2006.