Kore-eda presents “Look Back” at Busan film festival press conference
In short
Director Hirokazu Kore-eda and four actors presented the film “Look Back,” a Gala Presentation at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, at a press conference on Oct. 7 at the Busan Cinema Center's BIFF Hill in Haeundae-gu, Busan. Kore-eda said the shock of reading Tatsuki Fujimoto's original manga led him to make the film, his first youth film, and that he was glad to return to Busan with the actors three years after “Monster.”
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A press conference for the film “Look Back” was held on the morning of Oct. 7 at the BIFF Hill venue of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, according to Hankook Ilbo and Newsis. Director Hirokazu Kore-eda attended with actors Makita Aju, Nanase Furi, Deguchi Natsuki and Okada Roka. The film is a Gala Presentation selection of the 31st Busan International Film Festival. [ 2 , 3 , 7 ]
Kore-eda said he was happy to be back at the Busan International Film Festival with the actors he had shared a long time with on the work, adding that the opening ceremony was splendid and that he was pleased a song had been made with his name. Hankook Ilbo noted that he returned to Busan three years after his film “Monster” was invited to the 28th edition of the festival. [ 3 , 4 ]
He said the original manga was what drew him to the project. “I happened to find it at a bookstore and read the manga. While reading it, I thought about the question of why I make films as a creator,” he said. “I wanted to express the shock I felt then through the film.” Chosun Ilbo reported he said he could not forget the shock of first seeing the original manga. [ 3 , 5 ]
“Look Back” adapts Tatsuki Fujimoto's manga about two girls who draw together through four seasons and become each other's world, and Hankook Ilbo describes it as the first youth film by Kore-eda, who won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2018 for “Shigeaki Family” — “어느 가족.” The outlet reported that the manga drew 2.5 million views on its first day in 2021 and has been published in 37 countries, and that the film was invited to the competition section of the 83rd Venice Film Festival. Kore-eda said he wanted to shoot on film from the stage of deciding to adapt the manga, because film limits later changes to the footage and creates something from the tension that builds on set. [ 3 ]
The actors also spoke. Deguchi Natsuki said she was glad to come this year with the other actors after attending the festival last year. Makita Aju, attending Busan for the first time, said the opening ceremony was a valuable experience. Nanase Furi said she was nervous with so many people at the opening ceremony but enjoyed the welcome, and Okada Roka said it was an honour to come to the festival with the actors she worked with. Kore-eda said the four actors felt like daughters to him and that he wanted to illuminate the time they shared while filming. [ 3 ]
Chosun Ilbo reported that the film opens in Korea on Oct. 8. The 31st Busan International Film Festival runs until Oct. 15 around the Busan Cinema Center. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
“Look Back” is Kore-eda's first youth film and arrives at Busan after an invitation to the competition at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, giving the festival a headline title in its Gala Presentation section. Chosun Ilbo reports the film opens in Korea on Oct. 8, so the Busan appearance serves as its domestic launch. The 31st BIFF runs through Oct. 15 at the Busan Cinema Center area.
Key facts
- The “Look Back” press conference was held on Oct. 7 at the BIFF Hill venue of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan. [ 2 , 3 , 7 ]
- Director Hirokazu Kore-eda and actors Makita Aju, Nanase Furi, Deguchi Natsuki and Okada Roka attended. [ 2 , 3 , 7 ]
- “Look Back” is a Gala Presentation selection of the 31st Busan International Film Festival. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The film adapts Tatsuki Fujimoto's manga about two girls who draw together across four seasons and become each other's world. [ 3 ]
- Kore-eda said he wanted to shoot on film from the stage of deciding to adapt the manga, saying film limits later changes to the footage while creating tension on set. [ 3 ]
- The film was invited to the competition section of the 83rd Venice Film Festival. [ 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reported the film opens in Korea on Oct. 8. [ 4 , 5 ]
- The 31st Busan International Film Festival runs until Oct. 15 around the Busan Cinema Center. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A press conference for “Look Back” was held on Oct. 7 at the BIFF Hill venue of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan. [ 2 , 3 , 7 ]
- Director Hirokazu Kore-eda and actors Makita Aju, Nanase Furi, Deguchi Natsuki and Okada Roka attended the press conference. [ 2 , 3 , 7 ]
- “Look Back” is a Gala Presentation selection of the 31st Busan International Film Festival. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- Kore-eda said he was happy to return to the Busan International Film Festival with the actors he worked with on the film. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Kore-eda said the shock he felt on reading the original manga was the reason he made the film. [ 3 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- The Korean release date of “Look Back” Chosun Ilbo reports an Oct. 8 opening, but the other documents do not give a release date, so the date rests on a single outlet.
- How “Look Back” itself has performed or been received No ticket sales or reviews for this film appear in the documents; the admission figure cited in Hankook Ilbo's report refers to the earlier “Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc” film based on the same author's work.
- The song using Kore-eda's name that he mentioned from the opening ceremony It is mentioned only in his quoted remarks carried by one outlet, with no further detail.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The opening ceremony and red carpet of the 31st Busan International Film Festival are held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, which Kore-eda later calls splendid. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The “Look Back” Gala Presentation press conference is held at the BIFF Hill venue of the Busan Cinema Center, with Kore-eda and four actors attending. [ 2 , 3 , 7 ]
- Korea Economic Daily publishes BIFF coverage including a report on director Kore-eda and articles on the opening red carpet. [ 1 ]
- Hankook Ilbo publishes a full report of the press conference, including Kore-eda's remarks on filming on film and on Venice. [ 3 ]
- Newsis publishes photographs from the press conference. [ 7 ]