Thorns of Beauty

Kentaro is a photographer, handsome, successful. His girlfriend Riko is a dancer, and her life is also glamorous. One day she is approached on the bus by the shy Momo, who says she is her boyfriend's ex and that he has photos of her, explicit nude photos, which she would like to remove from his possession. Initially dismissive, Riko gains interest in Momo's secret plans. Her trust in her lover begins to waver, and the two women team up to deceive Kentaro together with secret agent-like deliberateness. Sparks soon fly in all directions and an exciting love triangle develops, leaving all involved unclear as to the true motives behind each other's actions.

Hideo JOJO is probably the busiest director in Japan today. He completes about three to four films a year and devotes himself to a wide variety of themes and approaches to them. He can never quite shake off his origins in the Pink Picture genre, but in the meantime, wit and narrative as well as technical elegance are in the foreground. Last year he was featured in the Japannual Program with Love Nonetheless. With Tina TAMASHIRO he has engaged the most sought-after young actress in Japan. She also appeared in several films this year, including By the Window in this year's Japannual program.