A noir-tinged yakuza film blending genres follows a young boxer and a call girl, who fall passionately in love while getting unwittingly caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one night in Tokyo. A film by Takashi Miike, starring Masataka Kubota, Sakurako Konishi, Takahiro Miura, Becky, Shota Sometani, and Nao Omori.

Leo Katsuragi (葛城レオ portrayed by Masataka Kubota / 窪田正孝), a young boxer abandoned at birth, works at a Chinese restaurant during the day. After collapsing in a match from a punch, he visits a hospital for a check-up. The doctor delivers a devastating diagnosis: an inoperable brain tumor, explaining his collapse.

Yuri Sakurai (桜井ユリ portrayed by Sakurako Konishi / 小西桜子), a young woman living with Yakuza Yasu (ヤス portrayed by Takahiro Miura / 三浦貴大) and his girlfriend Julie (ジュリ portrayed by Becky / ベッキー), works as a call girl named Monica to pay off her father’s debt while often experiencing hallucinations due to her drug addiction.

Kase (加瀬 portrayed by Shota Sometani / 染谷将太), another Yakuza member, and corrupt police officer Otomo (大伴 portrayed by Nao Omori / 大森南朋) plot to steal drugs from Yasu. Otomo orders Monica to perform a service for him in order to get her out of the apartment. He then sends a Chinese thug to abduct Julie and threaten her into believing that Monica is collaborating with a Chinese triad. While the apartment is empty, Kase will break in and steal the drugs.

However, things do not go according to plan. Monica, hallucinating again, attempts to run away from Otomo, who chases her down the street. Leo, passing by, believes Monica to be in danger and intervenes, knocking Otomo out with his knuckle. Realizing that Otomo is a police officer, Monica and Leo flee the scene together.

While Kase breaks into Yasu’s room, he inadvertently reveals his identity. The two men engage in a physical altercation, which results in Kase killing Yasu and fleeing the scene with a suitcase full of drugs.

Enraged, Julie kills the Chinese thug and returns to the apartment to find Yasu murdered. She calls the Yakuza boss to inform him of the crime, but Kase, who is with the boss, quickly snatches the phone to ensure that the Chinese triad is blamed.

Takashi Miike’s FIRST LOVE is a highly entertaining film with a deftly crafted script that seamlessly blends romantic comedy and Yakuza crime, incorporating comical gags reminiscent of Japanese manga without sacrificing gravitas.

Kase, portrayed exceptionally by Shota Sometani, is the film’s most prominent character. A psychopath and supervillain precariously balanced, he must improvise whenever his plans go awry, which they invariably do. Yet, luck is always on his side, captivating audiences with the anticipation of what will happen next.

Julie mesmerizingly portrayed by Becky, outshines even the lead actor and actress. As with all Takashi Miike films, you can expect copious blood spatter and massive pools of blood.

FIRST LOVE premiered at Festival de Cannes on 17 November 2019. The film was theatrically released in the United States on 29 September by Well Go USA Entertainment, before its theatrical release in Japan on 28 February 2020.