Judge! (2014 Film)

Judge! (Japanese: ジャッジ！; Romaji: Jyajji!) is a 2014 Japanese comedy film directed by Akira Nagai. The screenplay was written by Yoshimitsu Sawamoto. The film was released in Japan on January 11, 2014, with a runtime of 105 minutes, and was distributed by Shochiku.

Plot

The story follows Kiichiro Ota (Satoshi Tsumabuki), a new employee at an advertising agency. He is assigned to participate in a major international television advertising festival as a judge. During the event, he is paired with a colleague named Hikari Ota (Keiko Kitagawa), who shares his surname, and the two are required to pose as a married couple throughout the festival's social functions.

Kiichiro faces immense pressure from his agency, which threatens to fire him if he does not ensure their commercial wins the festival's grand prize. As the festival progresses, Kiichiro navigates a complex environment where directors from around the world engage in schemes and negotiations to secure the top award, while also contending with rival Japanese judges.

Production

Principal photography for Judge! commenced in early August 2013 and concluded on September 7, 2013. The film was shot under the direction of Akira Nagai, with cinematography by Naoki Noda.