Kore-eda's 'Look Back' Premieres at Venice, Marking Return to Form

Hirokazu Kore-eda's live-action adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's manga 'Look Back' premiered at the Venice Film Festival, marking a return to form after his sci-fi film 'Sheep in a Box' premiered at Cannes in May. The film, which is Kore-eda's eighth feature in ten years (excluding his Netflix series), was inspired by the cover image of a girl with her back turned, which resonated with him due to its 'desperate resolve' reminiscent of his own film 'Nobody Knows'. The story follows Fujino (Natsuki Deguchi), a talented young manga artist, and Kyomoto (Aju Makita), a reclusive classmate with social anxiety, whose rivalry evolves into a deep friendship and collaboration. Kore-eda stages the early scenes with a deft montage showing Fujino's solitary artistic development, her back often turned to the camera. The film's emotional warmth is enhanced by the delicate performances of the leads and Yuta Bandoh's Studio Ghibli-esque score, with Bandoh having previously co-soundtracked Miyazaki's 'The Boy and the Heron' with Joe Hisashi. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when the pair part ways under bitter circumstances, leading to a tragic event that introduces a sliding-doors moment, exploring themes of guilt and the drive to create. The film wears its heart on its sleeve, potentially appealing less to fans of Kore-eda's earlier, more astringent works, but its cathartic and complex emotional payoff is notable. The film is scheduled for release in 2026.