Love Dart

Yumeka (Kanon Nawata) whiles away her time making art in a studio left to her by her grandmother, though it appears she’s not attached to the art and may not find real value in it. She sleeps with men easily but seems empty of emotion in general. Even more in a shell is her university friend Tomoko (En Nakagami), a clean freak who cannot get involved with men. Yumeka suggests Tomoko have a tryst with their friend Takaya, but Tomoko is naturally less than interested. She does, however, take up Yumeka’s suggestion to take a job at a softcore porn movie theater and this sets of a chain of events the film follows. There she meets Kyoichi (Ryusuke Fujiwara), a young man who prostitutes himself. The thoroughly opposite Tomoko is intrigued.

Directed by Hisashi Saito, Love Dart leans on a strong ensemble — Canon Nawata, En Nakagami, Takahiro Miura — 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 romance titles of 2019.