‘The Potentials’ unpacks the dilemmas of a manga assistant in middle age
Shoichi Morimoto and Takuma Sato's "The Potentials" is an engaging tale about art, life and everything that gets in the way.
Shoichi Morimoto, a seasoned assistant director with credits on multiple Hirokazu Koreeda films, has turned his hand to his first feature screenplay, co-directed with Takuma Sato. Unlike typical movies about filmmaking, "The Potentials" takes an unconventional approach by placing its narrative within the realm of manga. This shift has resulted in a unique counterpart to Koreeda's recent "Look Back."
In Morimoto and Sato's film, the protagonist is no longer a fresh-faced newcomer to the comics industry but rather a seasoned veteran approaching middle age. Despite the character's advanced years, the narrative suggests that progress may be elusive, much like the protagonist's own journey in the world of manga.
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