Japanese director Nanako Hirose, who trained under Palme d’Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda for his film group Bunbuku Inc. Based in Tokyo, for her second film, Between two loversa romantic drama centered around a married woman who seeks a simultaneous relationship with her lover – and proposes that the three live together. The film is scheduled to be released in Japan on November 27.
The film stars Masami Nagasawa (Our little sister) as Yuta, a comic book author described by the filmmakers as “selfish and cunning — but utterly lovable.” Tasuku Emoto (Kubikicho no Addochi) plays her husband Morio, an attentive and homely man torn between his wife’s desires and traditional family values, while Shizuka Ishibashi – who is set to headline the NHK morning drama series blossom This fall – he will take on the role of Junna, Uta’s lover and editor.
Hirose says the film was “born from the idea that there should be more diverse forms of family in the world.” She says the idea first came to her during the pandemic and she has spent the years since developing and writing the script.
Nagasawa, who recently won the Best Actress award at the 49th Japan Academy Awards for her role in the film Dollhousesays of her character: “In Ota-chan’s seemingly conflicting actions lies a mixture of ideals, reality, and a sense of justice. However, her honesty and authenticity continue to draw people to her.” Emoto described the project as “a story about love, brought to life by clumsy characters, but full of longing.” Ishibashi described her character as “clumsy and prickly like a hedgehog”, but carrying a “childlike softness inside”.
Hirose built her career as an assistant director at Bunbuku, the creative collective founded by Kore-eda (Thieves, A monster(Founded in 2014 alongside director Miwa Nishikawa)Under the open sky). The company served as a launching pad and incubator for emerging Japanese directors, with Kore-eda mentoring young filmmakers from script development to production. Hirose’s first directorial experience His lost nameThe film, starring Yuya Yajira, premiered in the New Currents competition at the 2018 Busan International Film Festival and has been screened at international festivals.
Between two lovers The film first attracted industry attention at the script stage, winning the CJ ENM Award and the ARRI Award at the Asian Project Market (APM) at Busan’s Asian Content and Film Market in 2023.
The film is a co-production between Japan and Taiwan, with Taiwanese cinematographer Yau Hong-ai – who shot many of Hou Hsiao-hsien’s later works as well as Huang Shi’s films. Missing Johnny – Handling photography alongside Taiwanese lighting director Hsiao-hung-yi. Filming took place in September and October last year, and the film has already been completed. Popular Japanese singer-songwriter Hime composed the score, marking his first time recording a full feature.
The project is developed by Bunbuku and is produced and distributed by K2 Pictures, the Tokyo-based company launched in 2023 by former Toei producer Muneyuki Kii. K2 has positioned itself as a disruptor in the Japanese film industry, eschewing the country’s traditional production commission model in favor of a financing-based funding structure aimed at returning more profits to creators and attracting domestic and international investment. The company’s directors include Kore-eda, Nishikawa, Takashi Miike and Shunji Iwai, and K2P Film Fund I has attracted investments from some of Japan’s largest financial institutions, including MUFG Bank and the Development Bank of Japan. Kii serves as executive producer on Between two loverswith Daiju Koide producing.
