Director Koreda “Towards the next chapter” New challenge to the world September 18th 12:03

Director Hirokazu Koeda is known for his works that deeply look at the connections between family members and people. After the “Shoplifting Family” won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival last year, the Venetian International Film Festival took a new challenge. How did the world accept the latest, unusual work, starring a major French actress and filmed in France? (Reporter Akiko Furuyama, Director General of Europe)

Side by side with a French actress

Venice International Film Festival, one of the world's three largest film festivals. Every year, there is a lot of interest in the opening works that decorate the opening. What was chosen was “The Truth”, the latest work by Director Kore. This is the first time a Japanese director's work will be screened at the opening. Director Koreda attended the press conference on this day. On both sides, there were actors Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche, representing France. The venue was full and there were reporters standing there.

Latest work "Truth"

The movie “Truth”. The story begins when Binoche's daughter returns to his parents' home in Paris, triggered by the publication of the autobiography of a national actress who plays Deneuve. Over the "truth" that was not spelled out in autobiography, the passing of mother and daughter and the shadow of the heart that has been contained for many years became clear, and the figure of the mother and daughter gradually filling the groove from confrontation to understanding It is.

Why did Director Kore-eda make a work in France? I asked it directly.

“When I met Binoche in Japan in 2011, I had a long interview and went to Kyoto, and when my personal relationship got deeper, I had the chance to work on something in the future. If there is, there is a stage to go one step further.There is a story that made a Japanese actress who was not realized as a script but did not realize it, and that France is I wonder if I will rewrite it a lot on the stage. ''

An international collaboration between France and Japan, triggered by Mr. Binoche. How did Mr. Binoche see Kore-eda?

“I loved and respected the work since director Koeda started filming. The work is always delicate, complicated, loved by children and always impressed. I think it was a great courage to accept a different environment and make a film in France, but the director kept watching what the actors expressed, without obstructing them. I think it was more interesting than faithfully doing what the script says. ''

In December of last year, I was specially allowed to interview and went to the shooting site near Paris. In the studio, director Kore-eda was surrounded by a large number of French people and was preparing to shoot.

When Mr. Deneuve showed up, the studio turned into a spicy atmosphere. Mr. Deneuve is known for his “Umbrella of Cherbourg” (1964), and now he is 75 years old. Director Kore-eda said that when he rewrote the script in France, he decided that the lead was Deneuve. Mr. Deneuve, who has a long career and is also regarded as a “difficult actress”, director Kore-eda often visited Paris to build a relationship of trust and reached the consent of the appearance, and the work was born.

"To the next chapter"

"Truth" was also selected for the competition section. While there were voices hoping for a success following the Cannes Film Festival, Ms. Koeda was not particular about the award.

“In the competition where“ oil painting ”is required,“ truth ”was a consciousness of drawing the Paris landscape in autumn with watercolor paintings.”

As a result, there was no award, but after finishing the big role of opening screening, he told me about the future.

“I actually stopped moving the next, so it's time to take a short break here and take the interval and move on to the next chapter. I have been making movies for about 25 years, and I have a situation where I can't really face what I make, so I have a desire to be fresh and thrilled. If so, I'd like to try again overseas. ''

Director Koeda who had a tenacious dialogue and discussion with French people of different languages ​​and cultures, and created the “truth” together. The actors who appeared, as well as the hearts of movie journalists from around the world, were firmly grasped.

A film festival that continues to watch Japanese movies

It is not the first time that the oldest Venetian International Film Festival of the world's three largest film festivals has turned its attention to Japanese movies. The first example is “Rashomon” directed by Akira Kurosawa. At that time, an Italian woman who had been selling Italian films to Japan based in Tokyo was impressed by Rashomon and requested to be exhibited at the festival. However, in the era when Japanese movies were not yet known to the world, I couldn't get it. Then, the woman gave her the subtitles at her own expense, and exhibited the film without permission at the film festival. In 1951, she won the “Best Golden Lion” award.

Actually, Kurosawa himself didn't even know it was on display. The Venetian film festival, which became known as “World's Kurosawa”, has since founded talents such as director Kitano Takeshi and director Miyazaki Hayao from an early stage.

Symbolizing the world

Film festivals reflect the current trends in the world and awareness of social issues.

Prior to the closing ceremony, Hong Kong film director Yong Hwan attracted much attention on the red carpet. Won the best screenplay award for anime work “No.7 Cherry Lane”. The film is set in Hong Kong in 1967, when there was a movement against British colonial rule. Now, in Hong Kong, citizens are protesting in the wake of a draft amendment to the ordinance that allows the suspects to be handed over to mainland China. Yong Hwan talked about the current situation in Hong Kong in the award speech.

“I get the impression that the same thing happened 52 years ago. I want Hong Kong to regain peace and feel free again.”

The reporters were applauding the people at the venue and the press center where I was. Yong Hwan said in a statement: “This is my love letter to Hong Kong and the movie. It ’s a story about yesterday, today, and tomorrow, above all, a film about liberation.”

Although it is a love story animated film, it develops the story against the background of historical events and sends a message that leads to the present. The award was given to such a work, and it seemed to reflect the world's look that worries about the situation in Hong Kong.

The theme of the film festival is Saudi Arabia ’s first female director ’s voting rights for women, and “Panama Documents” revealing that wealthy people from various countries used tax havens to hide funds. The selected works were also screened. European film festivals are a stage for finding out the world's talents and sending messages from a different angle than Hollywood.

The next focus is on the Berlin International Film Festival in February next year. What works will appear and what will appeal to us?

Reporter of the European General Administration
Akiko Furuyama

Joined Hiroshima Station in 2011 and covered the European situation based in Paris since 2018.