Among the many domestic dramas slated for release in 2025, the popularity of "Meishun and Changsheng" stands out as particularly unconventional. It doesn't rely on strong genre gimmicks or hype to gain popularity; what truly attracts attention is the identity of its original author and the quality of the story itself. The original author, Mao Jianjun, was an ordinary worker pushing oxygen cylinders at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, yet he wrote a novel with a Douban rating as high as 8.1, which moved director Li Lu, who won the Magnolia Award, the Feitian Award, and the Golden Eagle Award. This leap from the grassroots to the core of the film and television industry carries a rare power of authenticity. The story takes place in northern China during a period of transition, stretching from the Great Northern Wilderness of 1978 to the hutongs of Beijing in the 1990s. Zhao Changsheng, due to a childhood accident, remains mentally immature and is forced into an arranged marriage, while Liu Meishun is a rural girl pushed by reality to marry far away. The beginning of this marriage is not romantic, but even cruel: one is treated as an "object needing care," and the other as a "capable wife." But it is precisely within this unbalanced relationship that the emotions do not descend into melodramatic conflict, but rather slowly take root through long-term interaction. What truly moves viewers about *Meishun and Changsheng* is its portrayal of "how two good people live together." Changsheng, unable to express himself, protects others in the most clumsy way; Meishun initially resists fate, but gradually makes proactive choices amidst repeated shocks from reality. The story doesn't glorify "sacrifice" or romanticize suffering as inspiration, but acknowledges the possibility of wavering, hesitation, and escape, ultimately making the characters' choices feel real and weighty. In its family narrative, the drama also avoids a black-and-white approach. Mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships, sibling conflicts, and the collapse of dignity brought about by layoffs are all treated as the intertwining of the times and human nature, rather than a simple good-versus-evil dichotomy. There are no absolute villains, only ordinary people constantly transformed under the pressure of survival. This restrained writing makes the emotions more penetrating. From a creative perspective, director Li Lu and screenwriter Geng Xuhong clearly emphasize the presentation of the "texture of the era." The public phone booths in the alleyways, the anxiety of unemployment after the reform of state-owned enterprises, and the rise of the street vendor economy—these details are not mere background elements, but rather forces directly involved in the characters' fates. More importantly, the original story itself stems from the author's real-life experiences, giving the entire work a high degree of emotional credibility even before its release. The anticipation surrounding the actors is also a significant source of its popularity. Huang Xuan challenges himself with a role involving intellectual disabilities, emphasizing a "pure but not naive" character; Liu Haocun delivers a performance spanning from a young girl to a middle-aged woman. The pairing of these two actors doesn't create intense dramatic tension, but rather serves the long-term narrative of the characters' growth—a choice that aligns with the overall tone of the series. In conclusion, the reason "Meishun and Changsheng" became a hit before its release isn't because it generated numerous talking points, but because it evoked a long-lost audience experience—how their parents' generation navigated the unromantic realities of life, day by day. This warm and genuine realism is perhaps the most scarce quality in contemporary Chinese dramas.

The Japanese film *90 Meters* recently announced its theme song, "0.2mm," composed by Mototaka Omori of Mrs. Green Apple, which adds a more restrained and profound emotional layer to the film. The film stars Santoki Soma and Miho Kanno and is scheduled for release on March 27th.

The Japanese film *Homura Kagayoe*, starring Towa Araki, recently announced that Shota Totsuka (ABC-Z) and Yoshitaka Hara (timelesz) will also star in the film. The official poster was released, and the film is confirmed for release on April 3rd. The film is set in Japan's Sengoku period. Araki plays Ashina Moritaka, a talented daimyo whose abilities are even valued by Oda Nobunaga. Moritaka was originally the eldest son of the Nikaido family, but was captured by the Ashina family as a child after his family's defeat in battle. At the age of 14, Moritaka faced off against the enemy general Satake Yoshishige in his first battle. Shortly after, Ashina Morioki, the 17th head of the Ashina family, died young from illness, and Moritaka was appointed to succeed him, becoming the 18th head of the Ashina family. The film's supporting cast includes Gennosuke, Higuchi Hima, Yutaro, Yoshida Metal, and Matsudai Koya...

The film *High School Family*, starring Shingo Katori and adapted from Ryo Nakama's popular manga of the same name, is confirmed for release in Japan this fall. The film takes an exaggerated and lighthearted approach to the family and school theme, unfolding a hilarious everyday story through the absurd premise of "the whole family becoming high school students." The main cast also includes Riisa Naka, Jun Saito, and Yuno Nagao. The story begins on the morning of Kotaro Igaya's (Jun Saito) first day of high school. Just as he is preparing for ordinary high school life, his father, Ichiro Igaya (Shingo Katori), suddenly announces that he will also be attending the same school as his son. Even more absurdly, this isn't an isolated case—his mother, Shizuka (Riisa Naka), his younger sister, Haruka (Yuno Nagao), who is still in elementary school, and even the family's pet cat, Gomez, all "naturally" become Kotaro's classmates. Thus, Kotaro's anticipated ordinary school life is completely engulfed in various accidents and chaos created by his family. The film uses the misplacement of family members' identities as a source of humor, depicting a comedic landscape woven from adolescence, parent-child relationships, and everyday trivialities. Beneath the exaggerated setting, it retains a gentle observation of family bonds.

Recently, the romantic comedy "Positively Yours" released a new set of stills, showcasing a date at an amusement park between the characters played by Choi Jin-hyuk and Oh Yeon-seo, drawing attention from viewers. The drama revolves around an unexpected relationship, telling the story of two people who initially held reservations about marriage, and how their feelings and realities gradually change. Oh Yeon-seo plays Jang Hye-won, a career woman who has never been in a relationship, while Choi Jin-hyuk plays Kang Doo-joon, the head of her company. In previous episodes, the emotional conflict between Kang Doo-joon and Cha Min-wook deepened, creating a subtle and tense relationship around Jang Hye-won. A conversation about time and the weight of emotions also led Kang Doo-joon to re-examine his position in the relationship. In the newly released scenes, Kang Doo-joon and Jang Hye-won appear together at an amusement park, participating in various games. This date was carefully arranged by friends to ease the slight distance between the two. During the games, they displayed excellent teamwork and a focused, competitive spirit, appearing even more natural and intimate from a distance. Another scene shows the four of them watching a movie together. Kang Doo-joon's attention is clearly not on the film itself, but rather he frequently glances at Jang Hye-won, who responds with a subtle smile. This relaxed yet delicate date also foreshadows the future development of their relationship.