Playing Dead
Directed by Isao KusakariAs a student, Hiroshi (35) aspired to be an actor and became leader of a theater troupe, but he now finds himself only ever getting cast as dead bodies. Between acting gigs and his day job as a traffic guard at road construction sites, his only source of comfort are the tropical fish he keeps at home. Even so, his passion for acting has yet to fade, and no matter how small the role, he dedicates himself to portraying dead bodies as realistically as possible, and devotes his time to exploring the meaning of death. However, his performances are always over-the-top, and he has gained a reputation for being difficult to work with. After drowning his sorrows in drink, he calls an escort agency which promises to supply "neat and cute female students from prestigious universities". The girl who turns up at his apartment has pink hair, and calls herself "Kana". One day, Hiroshi's mother, who has always supported him in his pursuit of an acting career, collapses due to a heart condition. As she draws her final breaths, she urges him to watch her as she dies, in order to help him learn how to portray death realistically. After her funeral, Hiroshi sorrowfully returns home, and Kana, who has been beaten by her boyfriend after telling him she was pregnant, turns up at his apartment asking for help. To protect her, Hiroshi uses his skill at portraying dead bodies to deceive her boyfriend.
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