Kitahara Rie’s first major acting role is the Shiraishi Kazuya horror film “Sunny/32”

Kitahara Rie (26) had multiple hats to wear as a member of AKB48, SKE48 and NGT48 and also once starring in the hit reality TV show “Terrace House: Boys x Girls Next Door”.

But since graduating from the idol group, producer Akimoto Yasushi asked her, “What kind of movie do you want to do?” and sure enough, Kitahara chose “Sunny/32” directed by Shiraishi Kazuya (“Twisted Justice”, “The Devil’s Path”, “Birds Without Names”, “Lost Paradise in Tokyo”), as she really wanted to work with the filmmaker.  And the film would be the first lead acting role for Kitahara.

The film is about a young woman who is abducted by criminals played by Pierre Taki (of the music group Denki Groove) and Lily Franky.  The film reunites filmmaker Shiraishi, screenwriter Takahashi Izumi and actor Pierre Taki, who worked in the 2013 film “The Devil’s Path”.

The film revolves around Fujii Akari (portrayed by Kitahara Rie) who is a 24-year-old middle school teacher.  She is kidnapped by two men Kashiwabara (portrayed by Pierre Taki) and Oda (portrayed by Lily Franky) who admired an Internet girl and call themselves “The Most Lovely Murderers in Criminal History”.

She is taken to a deserted place in the mountains in heavy snow conditions.

But who is Sunny?  She was an 11-year-old girl named whose murder shocked Japan back in 2003 and was known as the “cutest murderer in the history of crime” in Japan.   The murderer was shocking because she looked innocent and cute and would pose with three fingers on her right hand and a peace sign on the other.  Sunny would win fanatical followers who also call themselves “Sunny”.

Will Fujii be able to get help and escape her kidnappers?

“Sunny/32” will begin screening in theaters in Japan on February 17th.

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