Kore-eda: Don't make movies just for economic reasons

Director Hirokazu Kore-eda talks with Vietnamese media on the afternoon of April 10 - Photo: TTD

Hirokazu Kore-eda calls Mr. Kim Dong Ho a benefactor who introduced him to many career opportunities.

He also honestly shared about the Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival and Vietnam because he knew this was a country "with delicious meals", and accepting an invitation to attend a film festival anywhere was an opportunity to visit that country.

Dear Tran Anh Hung

Regarding Vietnamese cinema, director Kore-eda said he has not watched many films, nor has he had much contact with them.

However, he has respect for French-Vietnamese filmmaker Tran Anh Hung because they have had over 30 years of career together. With Tran Anh Hung, Kore-eda has memories of having a meal together in London.

Kore-eda and Tran Anh Hung both achieved glory at the Cannes Film Festival - Photo: Getty

At the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, he said he was very happy when Tran Anh Hung won the Best Director award for the film The Taste of Things , and his film ( Monster ) won the Screenplay award for screenwriter Ko-ji Yakusho.

Kore-eda humbly explained that he usually writes scripts for his own films, but Monster has a complex structure that he couldn't write, and was fortunate to work with a talented screenwriter.

Kore-eda has not watched Vietnamese films. However, according to him, Vietnam has similarities with Korea and Korea also has a very developed film industry. Therefore, if Vietnam has good films, he would also like to see them.

Need to nurture new talent

When HIFF takes place, many expect the event to create a boost to develop the local film industry, thereby helping contribute to economic growth.

From the perspective of a master filmmaker with 30 years of experience, contributing many valuable works to Japanese and world cinema, director Kore-eda shares:

"If a film industry is produced locally, that locality can develop.

Kore-eda gives his candid views on organizing a successful film festival: don't focus too much on celebrities, nurture young talents - Photo: TTD

However, that is a derivative result of filmmaking, and absolutely cannot be the purpose of cinematic creation. If that is taken as the purpose of cinematic creation, I do not think that is a healthy way of thinking."

For a young festival like HIFF to build its brand and make an impression in the region, he said:

"Even in Japan, there are not many effective international film festivals. This time, the festival invited Mr. Kim Dong Ho - a founding member of the Busan Film Festival - to be the honorary president. This is very meaningful. If possible, inviting more prestigious figures to participate will help enhance the prestige of the festival."

Panorama of the conversation between director Kore-eda and representatives of several press agencies in Ho Chi Minh City on the afternoon of April 10 - Photo: MI LY

But he also noted that a festival should not focus on inviting celebrities to create a brand, but should nurture new talent.

"The festival should discover and nurture talented directors to introduce and recognize. If a talented director is discovered, next year we will continue to encourage and nurture the director and the audience to grow together, accompanying the festival instead of just trying to invite many famous people," he said.

Let cinema develop, do not interfere with creativity

Although he is a famous filmmaker around the world, Kore-eda said he also had difficulties filming in Tokyo, Japan.

Specifically, when filmmakers want to film scenes at police stations, schools, roads, public places..., Tokyo does not allow filming.

Director Kore-eda on the set of a movie - Photo: Japan Times

Therefore, according to him, if the city wants to develop into a "cinema city", it must have a "menu" ready, and wherever it wants to film, that place must be ready for filming.

He said: "In order for film creation to develop, the city only supports logistics, but does not adjust the content of the creator's film.

If you touch the content of the film, you will ruin the work. Leave the content to the director."

In Vietnam, there are loyal audiences who love Kore-eda's films such as Nobody Knows, Still Walking, After the Storm, Like Father, Like Son, Shoplifters (Cannes Palme d'Or 2018).

When receiving sympathy from Vietnamese audiences, Kore-eda said he was happy and grateful, he also realized that Vietnam is especially interested in films with family themes. He wants his films to be shown more in Vietnam, besides Broker and Monster, which were released in 2022 and this year respectively.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/kore-eda-dung-lam-dien-anh-chi-voi-mong-muon-kinh-te-20240411092650471.htm