Venice 2026: Koreeda's 'Look Back' is a Charming Story of Friendship

"Thank you for getting me out of my room." This is a beautiful story about friendship & why friends matter so much. One of the highlights of the 2026 Venice Film Festival is this new film Look Back, a live-action version of both the original manga and the anime of the same name. Look Back is the second feature film directed by award-winning Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda this year. His other one, Sheep in the Box, premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and it was one of my least favorite films of that fest. What a flip to that experience! Koreeda's Look Back is one of my favorite films of this fest. A delightful, inspiring, wholesome coming-of-age story about two shy girls who bond over their love for drawing manga. Yes, there is a darker side to the story (as everyone who knows the manga / anime is already familiar with) but I can't help admitting I still feel so moved by how wonderful the rest of this story is anyway. I'm not surprised that Koreeda made another beautiful film about young Japanese kids finding their place & finding happiness in their own way – he's a master at telling these stories. Another "tenderness is the new punk" film from 2026. // Continue Reading ›

from FirstShowing.net https://ift.tt/lC9ew2h

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