(=Busan) Renowned director Hirokazu Kore-eda, who has a special connection with the Busan International Film Festival, presented his new film 'Look Back' at the festival, creating a powerful synergy with the beloved creator of 'Chainsaw Man,' Tatsuki Fujimoto. The film, which explores the weighty themes of creators' 'work' through the analog sensibility of 35mm film, is expected to resonate deeply with Busan audiences.
On the morning of October 7, a press conference for 'Look Back,' invited to the Gala Presentation of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), took place at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae. Attending the event were director Hirokazu Kore-eda and lead actors Natsuki Deguchi, Aju Makita, Rika Nanase, and Roka Okada.
The 'Gala Presentation' is a key section of the Busan International Film Festival that showcases new works by prominent contemporary directors and globally recognized films. 'Look Back' tells the poignant story of two girls who become each other's worlds while sharing unforgettable seasons, adapted from Fujimoto Tatsuki's manga of the same name. After the outdoor screening on the 7th, Kore-eda and the cast are scheduled to meet with the audience.
Kore-eda expressed his gratitude, stating, "The Busan International Film Festival has been a place I have been invited to since my debut. I have a special affection for this city and am delighted to return with my work and the actors." He also mentioned being deeply moved by a song created in his honor during the glamorous opening ceremony the previous day.
The actors shared their excitement about the festival. Natsuki Deguchi, who plays 'Fujino,' said, "I am happy to be in Busan again this year, just like last year." Aju Makita, who portrays 'Kyomoto,' remarked, "This is my first time in Busan, and I had a valuable experience watching the festival up close yesterday." Rika Nanase and Roka Okada, who play the younger versions of the two characters, added, "The atmosphere of the red carpet was different, and we were nervous, but we were grateful for everyone waving at us. It is an honor to attend with this group."
Kore-eda revealed that he stumbled upon Fujimoto Tatsuki's 'Look Back' in a bookstore, which led him to decide to adapt the impactful original into a live-action film.
He stated, "I cannot forget the shock I felt when I read the manga at home. It made me question, 'Why do people write stories and create?' For me, it became 'Why do I make films?' I felt it was a story about the 'work' that creators carry, and I wanted to confront and express that through the manga's original work."
The film delicately captures the changing seasons and light in the neighborhood shared by four girls. The director noted, "The four actresses felt like my daughters. Rather than detailed direction, I wanted them to live like real people in that neighborhood in a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere, and they expressed that beautifully."
The actors responded with nuanced performances. Natsuki Deguchi conveyed a wide range of emotions through subtle body language. He recalled, "There were many scenes where I had to express emotions through my back. Before the final scene, the director asked me to 'feel Kyomoto through your back.' I felt very lonely and desolate when I suddenly found myself alone after filming with Aju, who played Kyomoto, in Akita. I acted while feeling that empty emotion of being together yet apart."
Kore-eda's insistence on capturing the four seasons on 35mm film was a defining choice. He explained, "From the planning stage, I proposed to shoot the four seasons on 35mm film. Film restricts what can be changed in post-production, which adds tension for the actors, but it allows them to focus entirely on 'what is happening right now, here.' I believe that the energy created when that tension builds is captured in the work and conveyed directly to the audience."
Kore-eda also shared insights about the unique directorial technique of incorporating animation at the end of the film. He said, "With Fujino's line about 'my dream is for my manga to be animated,' I wanted to leave a possibility for the two characters to meet again in the future, even as they diverge. I chose a middle ground between live-action and animation as a device to revisit their dreams, which could be lost in a situation of separation. I thought it was appropriate to express the dreams they could not achieve through moving images in the background drawn by Kyomoto."
Meanwhile, the 31st Busan International Film Festival, running from October 6 to 15, features a diverse selection of 316 films from 59 countries, including 69 community BIFF screenings. The opening film was 'Day and Night Are for Each Other' by director Kim Jong-kwan, and the closing film will showcase the Busan Award-winning work.
On the morning of October 7, a press conference for 'Look Back,' invited to the Gala Presentation of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), took place at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae. Attending the event were director Hirokazu Kore-eda and lead actors Natsuki Deguchi, Aju Makita, Rika Nanase, and Roka Okada.
The 'Gala Presentation' is a key section of the Busan International Film Festival that showcases new works by prominent contemporary directors and globally recognized films. 'Look Back' tells the poignant story of two girls who become each other's worlds while sharing unforgettable seasons, adapted from Fujimoto Tatsuki's manga of the same name. After the outdoor screening on the 7th, Kore-eda and the cast are scheduled to meet with the audience.
Kore-eda expressed his gratitude, stating, "The Busan International Film Festival has been a place I have been invited to since my debut. I have a special affection for this city and am delighted to return with my work and the actors." He also mentioned being deeply moved by a song created in his honor during the glamorous opening ceremony the previous day.
The actors shared their excitement about the festival. Natsuki Deguchi, who plays 'Fujino,' said, "I am happy to be in Busan again this year, just like last year." Aju Makita, who portrays 'Kyomoto,' remarked, "This is my first time in Busan, and I had a valuable experience watching the festival up close yesterday." Rika Nanase and Roka Okada, who play the younger versions of the two characters, added, "The atmosphere of the red carpet was different, and we were nervous, but we were grateful for everyone waving at us. It is an honor to attend with this group."
Kore-eda revealed that he stumbled upon Fujimoto Tatsuki's 'Look Back' in a bookstore, which led him to decide to adapt the impactful original into a live-action film.
He stated, "I cannot forget the shock I felt when I read the manga at home. It made me question, 'Why do people write stories and create?' For me, it became 'Why do I make films?' I felt it was a story about the 'work' that creators carry, and I wanted to confront and express that through the manga's original work."
The film delicately captures the changing seasons and light in the neighborhood shared by four girls. The director noted, "The four actresses felt like my daughters. Rather than detailed direction, I wanted them to live like real people in that neighborhood in a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere, and they expressed that beautifully."
The actors responded with nuanced performances. Natsuki Deguchi conveyed a wide range of emotions through subtle body language. He recalled, "There were many scenes where I had to express emotions through my back. Before the final scene, the director asked me to 'feel Kyomoto through your back.' I felt very lonely and desolate when I suddenly found myself alone after filming with Aju, who played Kyomoto, in Akita. I acted while feeling that empty emotion of being together yet apart."
Kore-eda's insistence on capturing the four seasons on 35mm film was a defining choice. He explained, "From the planning stage, I proposed to shoot the four seasons on 35mm film. Film restricts what can be changed in post-production, which adds tension for the actors, but it allows them to focus entirely on 'what is happening right now, here.' I believe that the energy created when that tension builds is captured in the work and conveyed directly to the audience."
Kore-eda also shared insights about the unique directorial technique of incorporating animation at the end of the film. He said, "With Fujino's line about 'my dream is for my manga to be animated,' I wanted to leave a possibility for the two characters to meet again in the future, even as they diverge. I chose a middle ground between live-action and animation as a device to revisit their dreams, which could be lost in a situation of separation. I thought it was appropriate to express the dreams they could not achieve through moving images in the background drawn by Kyomoto."
Meanwhile, the 31st Busan International Film Festival, running from October 6 to 15, features a diverse selection of 316 films from 59 countries, including 69 community BIFF screenings. The opening film was 'Day and Night Are for Each Other' by director Kim Jong-kwan, and the closing film will showcase the Busan Award-winning work.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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