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yesterday

Kore‑eda’s Live‑Action Look Back Premieres in Venice Competition

The Venice launch shows Kore‑eda translating manga craft into live action, by foregrounding actor training and sound design to sharpen the film’s awards profile.

Director Hirokazu Koreeda and cast members Aju Makita and Natsuki Deguchi pose during a photocall for the movie "Look Back" in competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, September 7, 2026. REUTERS/Yara Nardi
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Director Hirokazu Koreeda and cast members Aju Makita, Natsuki Deguchi, Rokka Okada and Furi Nanase pose on the red carpet during arrivals for the screening of the movie "Look Back" in competition, at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, September 7, 2026. REUTERS/Yves Herman
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Overview

  • The film premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, placing it among 21 contenders for the Golden Lion.
  • Kore‑eda adapted Tatsuki Fujimoto’s 2021 one‑shot manga, saying he discovered the work during the COVID pandemic and made the film as a gesture of gratitude.
  • Critics praised the film’s performances, visual choices and meticulous sound design that emphasizes the act of drawing, while several reviews said the expansion to feature length can feel padded compared with the 2024 anime.
  • Actors spent months learning to draw manga so close‑up hand shots are authentic, and the film uses stylized animated inserts to convey creative escape.
  • The film opens in Japan on Sept. 11, 2026, with GKIDS handling planned U.S. and U.K. releases, and early review aggregation showed a strong initial Rotten Tomatoes score.