Dai SAKO 佐向大
PRINCIPAL EXAMINATION
中山教頭の人生テスト
Nippon Cinema ª
Vice principal Nakayama takes care of everything at his school and dreams of a promotion. But when a teacher fails to show up, he finds himself in charge of a class of elementary students again after more than 20 years – a challenge that shakes his confidence. Dai SAKO paints a witty, multi-layered and surprising portrait of the Japanese school system.
Guests:
Dai SAKO
Fri., May 30, 2025, 19:15
Mousonturm Saal
World premiere in the presence of the director Dai SAKO
Original with English subtitles
NOT approved for persons under 18 years (NC has not applied for age rating)
Sat., May 31, 2025, 19:15
Cinéma Arthouse Kino
World premiere in the presence of the director Dai SAKO
Original with English subtitles
NOT approved for persons under 18 years (NC has not applied for age rating)
Comedy Drama Obsessions
中山教頭の人生テスト
Nakayama kyoto no jinsei tesuto
Japan 2025
125 minutes
World sales
Rights Cube
Cast
Kiyohiko SHIBUKAWA, Eri ISHIDA, Shiho TAKANO, Umi KISAKI, Morio KAZAMA
About Dai SAKO
佐向大
Dai SAKO, born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1971, studied at Seijo University and began his career as a screenwriter. Starting in 1995, he worked as a director for various independently produced short and feature films. His first commercial success was RUNNING ON EMPTY (2009), which was screened at numerous international festivals. In the following years he wrote multiple screenplays before returning to the director’s chair in 2018 with THE CHAPLAIN (NC ‘19). PRINCIPAL EXAMINATION had its world premiere in 2025 at Nippon Connection.
Media partner: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
