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Love on Trial

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Mai, a rising J-Pop idol, is finally about to have her big break when she unexpectedly falls in love. But in a treacherous industry where young singers must maintain an image of flawless purity, love is forbidden. When her relationship is exposed, Mai's agency takes drastic action, dragging the couple to court over the "no love" clause in her contract, throwing her life into chaos.

Critics Reviews

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Jessica Kiang Variety May 28
Where there’s the potential for incisive commentary on the chew-em-up, spit-em-out nature of modern celebrity, Fukada’s oblique approach has all the rhythm of a popsong’s intro stuck on a never-ending loop: all filler instrumental, no catchy hook. Go to Full Review Hannah Strong Little White Lies May 23
Love on Trial meanders along with all the drama of a gentle boat ride, never quite kicking into gear, and the lack of development afforded to the supporting characters reduces Mai’s studio opposition to cartoon-like villains. Go to Full Review Josh Slater-Williams IndieWire May 22
C+
Sometimes the lack of detail in portraying the fictional pop group comes across as though budgetary constraints are responsible; other times, it feels like storytelling steps were fudged in favor of shortcuts. Go to Full Review Blake Simons The Film Stage Jun 11
A heartfelt, Hamaguchi-shaped work of two halves that expands [Fukada's] palette to suit an ever-more-openly political cinematic climate. Go to Full Review James Mottram South China Morning Post May 28
4/5
Fukada captures something of the sinister corporate culture behind the contemporary music industry. Better yet, he carves out a human story about the precious and precarious nature of young love. Go to Full Review Alistair Ryder Vague Visages May 26
As Mai retreats from the spotlight, so does the film around her, and while there are some impressive small-scale moments, the story ultimately gets too removed from the world it’s criticizing to land a rousing call-to-arms against it. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Koji Fukada

Director

Koji Fukada

Screenwriter

Shintaro Mitani

Screenwriter

Shin Yamaguchi

Producer

Yoko Abe

Producer

Atsuko Ôno

Producer
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Love on Trial

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Movie Info

Synopsis Mai, a rising J-Pop idol, is finally about to have her big break when she unexpectedly falls in love. But in a treacherous industry where young singers must maintain an image of flawless purity, love is forbidden. When her relationship is exposed, Mai's agency takes drastic action, dragging the couple to court over the "no love" clause in her contract, throwing her life into chaos.
Director
Koji Fukada
Producer
Shin Yamaguchi, Yoko Abe, Atsuko Ôno
Screenwriter
Koji Fukada, Shintaro Mitani
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Japanese