Japanese director Kore-eda’s manga film charms critics in Venice
'Look Back' by the arthouse director, whose past work includes 2018 award-winner 'Shoplifters', tells the story of two school friends who dream of becoming manga artists.
Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda's upcoming manga film adaptation is garnering widespread acclaim at the Venice Film Festival. Titled Look Back, the tender coming-of-age story follows two school friends who aspire to become manga artists. The narrative draws inspiration from the popular manga series by Tatsuki Fujimoto, which Kore-eda stumbled upon during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
International critics have been impressed by the film's portrayal of friendship, with Variety describing it as a "moving tribute to friendship", while IndieWire praised its "rich and dazzling new textures from manga and anime". However, not all reviews were positive, with Screen magazine finding the film "overly sentimental". In total, 21 films are competing for the prestigious Golden Lion award for best picture at the festival, with more screenings to follow before the closing ceremony on Saturday.
Kore-eda, 64, is a favorite among European audiences, having previously presented his Cannes film Sheep in the Box, about a grieving couple welcoming a humanoid robot into their home. Despite not winning an award that year, he remains a celebrated figure on the festival circuit, currently preparing for three new projects.
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