Mai, a member of a J-pop idol group, sings of love on the stage she has always dreamed of. In return, fans buy albums, cheer on her, and fervently express their love. Fandom culture is a vast contemporary fantasy built on the mutual exchange of love. After an unexpected reunion with Kei, whom she had known before her debut, Mai falls in love. Her agency, citing the ‘No dating’ clause stated in her contract, takes her to court. For an idol, the love of fans and personal romantic love form a mutually exclusive dilemma. Confronting the double standards embedded in the idol industry, Mai steps down from the stage and begins to speak for herself in the courtroom. Fukada Koji’s latest film Love on Trial delicately gazes at the calm yet resilient face of a woman who stands up to the shadows within the cultural industry. (MOON Juhwa)