The film FRONTLINE, set for theatrical release on June 13, is based on the real-life COVID-19 outbreak that occurred aboard the luxury cruise ship Diamond Princess. Newly released behind-the-scenes photos and a special video highlight the cast and crew’s commitment to authenticity in this groundbreaking production.

While pandemic and virus outbreak films have been made around the world, FRONTLINE is Japan’s first feature film to depict the COVID-19 pandemic based on true events, with an original screenplay that reflects the scale and impact of this global crisis.

The story unfolds aboard the Diamond Princess, which docked at Yokohama Port on February 3, 2020, where Japan’s first large-scale COVID-19 outbreak occurred. The ship carried 3,711 passengers and crew from 56 countries and regions. Following onboard health inspections, 10 people tested positive, marking Japan's initial encounter with the unknown virus and a turning point in the nation’s public health response.

At the time, Japan lacked a specialized agency to deal with such large-scale infectious disease emergencies. The response fell to DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team)—a volunteer-based emergency medical organization trained for natural disasters like earthquakes and floods. Although skilled in disaster response, DMAT doctors and nurses had no prior experience in handling a virus of this nature.

The film stars Shun Oguri as lead character Hidenari Yuki, a physician modeled after Dr. Anan, who commanded DMAT’s response aboard the ship. Oguri uses Dr. Anan’s actual stethoscope in his scenes, and Dr. Anan himself supervised filming, including the medical diagnosis sequences onboard.

Other main cast members include Tori Matsuzaka as a Ministry of Health official and Sosuke Ikematsu and Yosuke Kubozuka as DMAT doctors. Together with the director, they pursued a high level of realism throughout production. Recreated cruise ship interiors were so accurate that real DMAT members who visited the set remarked that it felt as if they were back in the field.

In a post-filming interview, Shun Oguri reflected on his portrayal:

"I tried to reflect the calm and conviction that Dr. Anan carries. DMAT’s mission of saving as many lives as possible without hesitation became my motivation in playing Yuki."

The passion of the cast and crew shines through, driven by DMAT’s principle of “doing everything we can.”

The newly released behind-the-scenes photos feature the cast sharing conversations with the director, engaging in detailed rehearsals, and filming intense scenes. A special making-of video, which includes actual footage and cast interviews, has also been completed.

FRONTLINE: Behind-the-Scenes

Source : ORICON NEWS