Koreeda’s Venice Entry ‘Look Back’ Adapts Manga Into Tender Coming-of-Age Drama

At the Venice Film Festival, director Hirokazu Koreeda discusses his competition entry “Look Back,” a manga adaptation that explores teen friendship, artistic passion, and emotional resilience. The film has drawn praise as a delicate character study reflecting Koreeda’s signature empathetic style.

7 Sept, 05:29 — 7 Sept, 20:15

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Why this matters

Renowned Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda is celebrated for his introspective, character-driven dramas, making this project a notable pivot toward adapting a globally popular manga. Premiering in competition at the Venice Film Festival, the film translates Tatsuki Fujimoto’s acclaimed series into live-action, blending Koreeda’s signature arthouse pacing with contemporary themes of artistic creation and adolescent grief. The release also follows a separate 2024 anime adaptation, underscoring the increasing cross-medium translation of modern Japanese comics for international audiences.

Key entitiesHirokazu Koreeda Tatsuki Fujimoto Venice Film Festival Japan

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Sources

Showing 3 of 4 sources

varietyMostly Factual16h ago

Kore-eda Hirokazu on Adapting Fujimoto Tatsuki’s Manga for Venice Competition Film ‘Look Back’

“Look Back” is Kore-eda Hirokazu’s third time working from manga source material, but never before has the arthouse filmmaker drawn from such a commercially popular and internationally beloved work.A one-volume story from “Chainsaw Man” mangaka Fujimoto Tatsuki, “Look Back” follows the converging, then diverging, fates of two classmates, Fujino and Kyomoto, who achieve their professional […]

By Carolehorst

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hollywood-reporterMostly Factual1h ago

Hirokazu Koreeda Opens Up About His Tender Coming-of-Age Drama ‘Look Back’: “I Was Tearful the Entire Time I Made This Film”

The live-action adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s wildly popular manga features remarkable performances from its young leads and is premiering in competition at the Venice Film Festival.

By Patrick Brzeski

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deadlineMostly Factual6h ago

‘Look Back’ Director Hirokazu Koreeda On Adapting Manga And Learning To Live With The Ghosts Of The Past – Venice Film Festival

Hirokazu Koreeda is not the world’s most prolific director or even Japan’s (that honor goes to Takashi Miike, who passed the 100-film milestone years ago). But he is certainly one of the most versatile and unpredictable; there are few directors who could follow the heart-wrenching poignancy of Still Walking (2008), a film about a family […]

By Damon Wise

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Coverage Timeline

First report: variety · 7 Sept, 05:29|Full coverage: 4 · 15h|Window: 15h

variety7 Sept, 05:29First to report

Kore-eda Hirokazu on Adapting Fujimoto Tatsuki’s Manga for Venice Competition Film ‘Look Back’

10h later

deadline7 Sept, 15:00

‘Look Back’ Director Hirokazu Koreeda On Adapting Manga And Learning To Live With The Ghosts Of The Past – Venice Film Festival

el-mundo7 Sept, 15:14

Look Back: El regreso del cine de ojos grandes de Koreeda (***)

5h later

hollywood-reporter7 Sept, 20:15Latest update

Koreeda’s Venice Entry ‘Look Back’ Adapts Manga Into Tender Coming-of-Age Drama

Why this matters

Source Diversity

Source Diversity

Sources

Kore-eda Hirokazu on Adapting Fujimoto Tatsuki’s Manga for Venice Competition Film ‘Look Back’

Hirokazu Koreeda Opens Up About His Tender Coming-of-Age Drama ‘Look Back’: “I Was Tearful the Entire Time I Made This Film”

‘Look Back’ Director Hirokazu Koreeda On Adapting Manga And Learning To Live With The Ghosts Of The Past – Venice Film Festival

Coverage Timeline

Kore-eda Hirokazu on Adapting Fujimoto Tatsuki’s Manga for Venice Competition Film ‘Look Back’

‘Look Back’ Director Hirokazu Koreeda On Adapting Manga And Learning To Live With The Ghosts Of The Past – Venice Film Festival

Look Back: El regreso del cine de ojos grandes de Koreeda (***)

Hirokazu Koreeda Opens Up About His Tender Coming-of-Age Drama ‘Look Back’: “I Was Tearful the Entire Time I Made This Film”

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