Into the White Night (2011 Film)
Into the White Night (Japanese: 白夜行, Hepburn: Byakuyako) is a 2011 Japanese mystery-thriller film directed by Yoshihiro Fukagawa. The screenplay, written by Fukagawa and Shingo Irie, is based on the novel Byakuyako by Keigo Higashino. The film explores the long-term consequences of a murder investigation involving two individuals whose lives remain intertwined through tragedy.
Plot
The story begins with the murder of a pawn shop owner in Osaka. Although police investigate the incident, the case is eventually classified as a suicide due to a lack of conclusive evidence. Detective Junjo Sasagaki, who leads the investigation, remains haunted by the case, particularly by the presence of the victim's son, Ryouji, and the daughter of the primary suspect, Yukiho. As years pass, a series of mysterious deaths occurs in the orbit of both Ryouji and Yukiho, leading Sasagaki to uncover deep-seated secrets connecting the two.
Cast
The film features a dual-timeline narrative, with child actors portraying the protagonists in their youth and adult actors portraying them later in life.
- Maki Horikita as adult Yukiho Karasawa
- Kengo Kora as adult Ryouji Kirihara
- Eichiro Funakoshi as Detective Junjo Sasagaki
- Yuki Imai as young Ryouji Kirihara
- Shiori Fukumoto as young Yukiho Karasawa
- Nobuo Kyo as Kazunari Shinozuka
- Yurie Midori as Eriko Kawashima
- Urara Awata as Noriko Kurihara
- Tetsushi Tanaka as Isamu Matsuura
- Keiko Toda as Mikiko Kirihara
Production and Release
The film was produced by Gaga Corporation, WOWOW, and Horipro. It held its world premiere on October 25, 2010, at the Tokyo International Film Festival before its general theatrical release in Japan on January 29, 2011. Following its domestic release, the film was screened at various international film festivals, including the Berlin International Film Festival and the Shanghai International Film Festival.
