I Give My First Love to You (2009 Film)

I Give My First Love to You (Japanese: 僕の初恋をキミに捧ぐ, Hepburn: Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu) is a 2009 Japanese romantic drama film directed by Takehiko Shinjo. The film is based on the manga series of the same name by Kotomi Aoki, which was serialized in Shojo Comic from 2005 to 2008.

Promotional poster for the film I Give My First Love to You

Plot

The story follows the childhood bond between Mayu Taneda and Takuma Kakinouchi. Mayu, the daughter of a doctor, meets Takuma while he is a patient at her father's hospital. They develop a deep emotional connection, but the relationship is overshadowed by the revelation that Takuma suffers from a terminal heart condition and is not expected to live past his 20th birthday. As they grow into young adulthood, the pair struggles with the emotional toll of their uncertain future, leading to periods of distance and misunderstanding as they navigate their feelings for one another.

Cast

The film features a central cast including:

Mao Inoue as Mayu Taneda
Masaki Okada as Takuma Kakinouchi
Tetta Sugimoto as Minoru Kakinouchi
Yoko Moriguchi as Ryoko Kakinouchi
Natsuki Harada as Teru Uehara
Toru Nakamura as Dr. Takahito Taneda

Production and Release

The film was produced by NTV, Toho, and Shogakukan Productions, and distributed by Toho. It was released in Japanese theaters on October 24, 2009, with a runtime of 122 minutes. The film was featured in the 22nd Tokyo International Film Festival in 2009 as part of the Special Screenings section.

Reception and Awards

Masaki Okada received recognition for his performance in the film, winning the "Rookie of the Year" award at the 33rd Japan Academy Prize in 2010 and the "Best Newcomer" award at the 22nd Nikkan Sports Film Awards in 2009.