▲ This photo, provided by Triple Pictures, shows Hamaguchi Ryusuke, Japanese director of "Drive My Car." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) 

 

▲ This photo, provided by Triple Pictures, shows a scene from the film "Drive My Car," (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) 

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- “I think my production ‘Drive My Car’ received good comments thanks to directors Koreeda Hirokazu and Bong Joon-ho.”

Hamaguchi Ryusuke, director of the Japanese film “Drive My Car” that won an award for the Best Screenplay at Cannes International Film Festival said as above during an online interview with the Korean press Thursday.

The film was first screened at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in October and will hit the Korean box office on Dec. 23.

“I received big strength to progress onward,” said director Hamaguchi about his conversation with director Bong at the BIFF.

“It was this year’s most interesting and the happiest experience for me. I felt his loving and deep insight for my work. Director Bong led our conversation as if he was directing me. He inspired me based on faith like ‘You can answer to this question too.’”

Hamaguchi’s film shows Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), a man who has suffered from his passed away wife starts relieving the heart-break after meeting driver Misaki (Miura Toko) and starts looking into his deep emotions.

 

 

 

▲ This photo, provided by Triple Pictures, shows a scene from the film "Drive My Car," (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) 

It is based on a short story with the same title included in celebrity author Murakami Haruki’s novel collection “Men Without Women.”

There are some different parts from the original story, but the director said that he kept the relationship between Kafuku and Misaki.

It is said that the author commented, “I can’t tell which parts are the ones I’ve written,” after watching the movie.

“It was the best praise for me. I heard that there are a lot of fans of author Murakami in Korea, so I’m looking forward to how the audiences will feel about the film,” said Hamaguchi.

 

 

▲ This photo, provided by Triple Pictures, shows Hamaguchi Ryusuke, Japanese director of "Drive My Car." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) 

Korean actors appear in the movie as well such as Park Yu-rim and Jin Dae-yeon. As Park appears as a hearing-impaired, she only uses sign language.

The director who wanted to try making a production using sign language said, “The scene was very impressive thanks to Park Yu-rim’s hard work to well-act the sign language.”

Director Hamaguchi is expected to be the next master producer of Japan having presented works such “Asako I & II,” “Happy Hour” and “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy” that drew positive comments from both the audiences and the critics

“There always has been interest in Asian films throughout the history. I feel the recently rising anticipation on Asian films from film festivals around the world. I hope for this faith to continue as we will keep making new productions.”

(END)

 

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