given The Movie

Synopsis

Continues the story of given

Clutching his Gibson guitar, Mafuyu Satou departs his gloomy apartment to begin another school day. While dozing in the quiet gymnasium stairwell, he encounters classmate Ritsuka Uenoyama, who reprimands him for neglecting the instrument, allowing the strings to rust and snap. Recognizing Uenoyama's proficiency, Satou requests that he repair the guitar and provide lessons. Uenoyama eventually consents and invites Satou to a jam session with his other bandmates: bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji. Struck by Satou's mesmerizing voice, Uenoyama persuades him to become the group's lead vocalist. Though initially reluctant, Satou accepts the position following a moving discussion with an old acquaintance. Supported by his new friends, Satou must learn to master the guitar while uncovering the enigmatic reasons behind why he possesses the instrument.

In this installment

In "given The Movie," the band "given"—comprised of Ritsuka Uenoyama, Mafuyu Satou, Haruki Nakayama, and Akihiko Kaji—advances to the final round of the Countdown-fes Amateur Contest, where their live performance could secure their victory. However, they worry about performing with only one original song. Driven to create more emotionally resonant music, Mafuyu receives unexpected help from Ugetsu Murata, Akihiko’s former partner. Ugetsu, still grappling with his feelings for Akihiko, finds himself torn between the past and an unsure future. As the competition nears, Haruki begins to doubt his place within the band and his relationship with Akihiko, an uncharacteristic sentiment for him. The film explores how relationships inevitably evolve and whether something valuable can be preserved amidst the pain of heartbreak, or if only remorse will linger.