Live-Action Look Back Film Premieres at Venice, Toronto

A new live-action film adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's Look Back manga premiered at the Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals the week of its Japanese release. Written and directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, the 100-minute movie is reviewed by Anime News Network as the weakest of the three existing versions of the story, which includes the original manga and a prior anime film.

Expansion to Feature Length

The review notes the core challenge of adapting the short manga, previously adapted into an anime film running less than an hour, into a 100-minute live-action feature. Kore-eda expands the runtime by spending more time depicting the manga-making process. The film shows real people drawing, and the characters, Fujino and Kyomoto, discuss their story ideas for "Shark Kick" with each other and their editor in greater detail.

Inspirations for the characters' work are also explored more deeply, with direct references to films like Nosferatu, Jaws, and My Neighbor Totoro. According to the review, "All of these additions make sense, but in adding so much, Kore-eda's Look Back loses some of the punchiness of the original work." The film is described as feeling slow despite its runtime.

Comparing the Mediums

The review contends that some elements of the story work better in animation than live action. It states that the drawn versions of the manga and anime made scenes iconic by conveying emotion through illustration. While praising Senzo Ueno's cinematography and Yūta Bandō's score, the review argues the live-action version cannot replicate the same force, sometimes relying on "cheesy" slow motion for emphasis.

Another noted difference is the casting. Child actors Fūri Nanase and Rokka Okada play the elementary school-aged protagonists, bringing realism. For the middle school years, the characters are suddenly played by actresses in their twenties, Natsuki Deguchi and Aju Makita. The review calls this switch an artifice not present in the animated adaptation.

A Surpassing Finale

Despite its criticisms, the review highlights one sequence where the live-action version is said to surpass the anime: Fujino's final montage in Kyomoto's room. This scene use rotoscope animation by Yōko Kuno and Shinei Animation, creating a denouement unique to this adaptation. The reviewer writes, "Up until this ending, I respected how this adaptation conveyed shock and mourning without being wrapped up in them myself."

The review concludes by questioning the necessity of another adaptation but acknowledges the film's merits. It states the core story remains intact and the expansions are worthwhile, with the film's relative weaknesses serving to highlight the strengths of the original manga and anime.