Fireflies: River of Light Director: Sugawara Hiroshi Starring: Yukiyoshi Ozawa, Risako Sugaya, Takuya Asada Prelude: The film, based on a real-life story in Japan, is about a primary school teacher who initiates a scheme to breed fireflies with his students. Fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, are almost non-existent in urban areas. As they are often found near unpolluted streams or meadows, their population size is an indicator of the level of pollution in an area. The story: Ozawa plays Miwa, a young and caring teacher in a remote village who has trouble dealing with his naughty students and conservative colleagues. During a field trip, he comes up with a plan that captures the children's attention: breeding fireflies so that their summer nights can be illuminated by the flashing insects. Among the excited students is a lonely and quiet girl called Hikari (Sugaya), who has a great interest in raising fireflies. She believes in a folktale which claims that people can meet with their deceased family members when the fireflies fly. But Miwa's plan faces fierce opposition from his conservative school and the community. Although Miwa is told that he can save his job by halting the project, he is determined not to let his students down. The star: At the age of eight, Sugaya beat 958 contestants to become a member of the popular Japanese music group Hello Project Kids. In addition to a budding acting career, Sugaya, now 11, is also a member of the music group Berryz Kobo. Her role as Hikari is her screen debut. Things to watch: Veteran actor Koji Yakusho (Shall We Dance) as an inspiring teacher. Also look out for the historical monuments and beautiful scenery of the Yamaguchi region. Why do fireflies glow? This is how they date. The males flash their lights in different patterns as they fly in order to attract female fireflies, which will return the flashing signals if they're interested. How will it fare? With a touching plot and meaningful messages about environmental protection and education, the movie is an ideal film for teachers and students.