With the 2017 feature film Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom? out in Japan on home video already and a North American release coming up shortly, a new international distribution has been set. The film is getting released through Australian distributor Madman Entertainment with a Blu-ray priced at $34.95 and a DVD edition priced at $29.99 that will land on February 6th, 2019. Extras are to be determined but the US releases include an audio interview with the director, behind the scenes with the English cast, and some of the theatrical trailers.
Akiyuki Shinbou is serving as the chief director with Nobuyuki Takeuchi serving as the hands-on director. The scripts from Satoru Mosaki with animation by Shaft.
The Japanese cast includes Suzu Hirose as Nazuna Oikawa, Masaki Suda as Norimichi Shimada, Mamoru Miyano as Yuusuke Azumi, Takako Matsu as Nazuna’s Mother, Kana Hanazawa as Miura-sensei, Junichi: Shintaro , Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Kazuhiro and Yuki Kaji as Minoru.
Plot Concept: One summer day in a sea side town, two students, Norimichi and Yusuke, meet their crush, Nazuna at the pool. The boys have a swimming race to impress Nazuna. Norimichi loses, but finds a mysterious ball in the water. Yusuke wins, and is asked by Nazuna to go watch the fireworks together. While the boys argue whether fireworks are round or flat when viewed sideways, Nazuna tells Norimichi she was going to ask out whoever won the match. However, her true aim was to run away and ‘elope’ with the winner, to get away from her mother’s remarriage.
Nazuna, in front of Norimichi’s eyes, resists her mother’s orders. Norimichi, powerlessly watches the situation, unable to help. “If only I’d won the race?” Irritated, Norimichi throws the ball he found in the water, and then? He finds himself back in the moment of the race.
With that day repeating over and over again, what answers will Nazuna and Norimuchi find? And, are fireworks round or flat when viewed sideways?
