THERMAE ROMAE
Original Title
テルマエ・ロマエ
Terumae romae
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Release : Apr-28-2012 Duration : 108min. ©︎2012 "THERMAE ROMAE" Film Partners
STAFF
Director : Hideki Takeuchi (THERMAE ROMAE) Original Story : Mari Yamazaki Screenplay : Shogo Muto (SURELY SOMEDAY) CAST
Hiroshi Abe (The Crimes That Bind) Aya Ueto (Hirugao) Kazuki Kitamura (MILLION DOLLAR MAN)
INTRODUCTION
An ancient Roman architect (specializing in baths) struggling to invent new ideas for baths accidentally slips through time and resurfaces in a public bath house in modern day Japan!? Travelling back and forth between ancient Rome and modern day Japan, this hilarious, highly original "time slip bath-driven manga - ?THERMAE ROMAE'” (currently serialized in Comic Beam Monthly) will be miraculously transformed into a live action film starring Hiroshi Abe and Aya Ueto!!
The film is an adaptation of the wildly popular manga that won both the "2010 Manga Grand Prix” and the "14th Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize Short Story Award.” (Volume 3 on sale April 25 / Enterbrain, Inc.) The title "THERMAE ROMAE” means "Roman Bath.” The three volumes published to date have sold over 2.5 million copies and are hailed by the media as the "hottest” manga today. THERMAE ROMAE” is the brainchild of up-and-coming manga artist Mari Yamazaki, whose husband is Italian. Hiroshi Abe is perfectly cast in the lead role of ancient Roman Lucius while Aya Ueto plays the adorable heroine Mami, an aspiring Japanese manga artist. The screenplay is by Shogo Muto, who also scripted the film "Crows ZERO” and dramas "Train Man” and "Hanazakari No Kimitachi E.” The film is directed by Hideki Takeuchi of film and drama "Nodame Cantabile” and dramas "Train Man” and "Kamisama, Mou Sukoshidake.” The project brings together a star-studded cast and staff, and features scenes shot on the colossal open set of ancient Rome at Cinecitta Studios, the premiere film studio in Italy.
Proud ancient Roman architect, Lucius, is flabbergasted by every aspect of Japan's bath culture, and his beliefs are shaken to the core. His every move, rife with humor and wit, is sure to make you laugh, but the story also explores in depth the origins of the Japanese and ancient Roman "bath” cultures. Witness the birth of an epic, fantastical comedy masterpiece that is both uproariously funny and deeply touching!
STORY
Ancient Roman architect Lucius (Hiroshi Abe) is too serious. His inability to keep up with the fast-moving times costs him his job. When a friend takes the dejected Lucius to the public bath house to cheer him up, Lucius accidentally slips through time and resurfaces in a modern day public bath in Japan. There, he meets aspiring young manga artist Mami (Aya Ueto) along with others of the "flat-faced clan.” ( = Japanese). Shocked by the many inventive aspects of Japan's bathing culture, Lucius returns to ancient Rome and garners tremendous attention when he implements these novel ideas back in Rome. As he time-slips back and forth between ancient Rome and modern-day Japan, Lucius' reputation as the ingenious, new bath architect begins to grow...
