Arc (2021 Film)

Arc is a Japanese science fiction film released on June 25, 2021. Directed by Kei Ishikawa, the film is based on the short story Arc by American author Ken Liu, which was originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in September 2012.

Plot

The story is set in the near future and follows Rina, played by Kyoko Yoshine, who leads a nomadic life. She eventually encounters Ema, portrayed by Shinobu Terajima, who becomes her mentor. Rina begins working for Ema in a profession known as "body works," which involves the plasticization of deceased individuals to preserve them for grieving families. Ema's younger brother, Amane (Masaki Okada), creates a revolutionary technology capable of achieving human immortality. Rina becomes the first person to undergo this procedure, allowing her to maintain a youthful appearance indefinitely.

Production

The film was produced by Makoto Kakurai and Haruto Nakayoshi, with a screenplay written by Kei Ishikawa and Kaori Sawai. Principal photography for the project commenced in February 2020 and concluded in March 2020. The production team utilized locations in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, for filming. The film was distributed by Warner Bros. Japan and has a total runtime of 127 minutes.

Cast

• Kyoko Yoshine as Rina
• Shinobu Terajima as Ema
• Masaki Okada as Amane
• Kurumi Shimizu
• Kai Inowaki
• Tsubasa Nakagawa
• Yuri Nakamura
• Chieko Baisho
• Jun Fubuki
• Kaoru Kobayashi