Anticipation

Todo, an old wealthy man, is fascinated by the appearance of Sayumi walking in the graveyard in midsummer, holding the urn of his late mother. Sayumi, who doesn't know her father, longs for Todo like her father and begins to love him as a man. One day, Sayumi, invited by Todo to visit the villa, finds a portrait of Kazumi, a girl with pigtails that looks exactly like her. And the relationship between Todo and Sayumi begins to go crazy in an unexpected direction due to an uninvited guest who arrives on a stormy night.

Directed by Hidekazu Takahara, Anticipation leans on a strong ensemble — Asuka Oda, Daisuke Ryū, Takashi Naha — 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 2019.