Waking up handcuffed together after a violent crash, a man and a woman find themselves on the run from both the police and ruthless drug dealers. With no memories of the past, they are unsure which of them is the cop and who is the criminal. Drawing on his background in Japanese television, director Sato Sakichi demonstrates brisk narrative pacing, delivering a slick, breezy, and highoctane romantic crime comedy. Recalling the classic odd-couple dynamics of the golden age of crime films, the film channels a retro nostalgia through a fast-paced series of absurd coincidences and thrilling escapes. The electric chemistry between Sawajiri Erika and Maruyama Ryuhei gives a vibrant spark to the chaos, balancing the rock-and-roll momentum with genuine emotional warmth. Fast, stylish, and immensely satisfying, The Chain of Roses is a thrilling 83-minute rollercoaster ride that proves true romance can bloom even amidst the tightest restraints.
Born in Osaka in 1964. Working at the film magazine Kinema Junpo and the film production company Seiyu, Sato Sakichi was involved in discovering emerging directors and planning film festival programs. He wrote the screenplays for Across a Gold Prairie (1999), Ichi the Killer (2001), and Gozu (2003), and made his feature directorial debut with Tokyo Zombie (2005). His short film Haru no Ogawa (2011), part of the omnibus project Nihon no Uta, received a Special Mention of the Jury at the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, and he has since written and directed for the NHK television series Edogawa Rampo Series and Seishi Yokomizo Series.
From Busan International Film Festival 2026, No. 31
