Fujino is a confident, boisterous fourth-grader celebrated for drawing comic strips for the school newspaper. Her pride is challenged when Kyōmoto – a reclusive, severely anxious schoolmate who refuses to leave her house – begins submitting comics to the paper as well. Kyōmoto’s vastly superior linework sparks a fierce, secret rivalry in Fujino. When she discovers that Kyōmoto is an adoring superfan of her work, their rivalry transforms into a deep, collaborative friendship. The two join forces to create manga together. Their collective talent and synergy know no bounds, and it seems only a matter of time before they gain greater recognition.
"On a return trip from Kyoto by bullet train, I was attracted by “the back” on the cover of a book, stacked up on display at a bookstore in Shinagawa station, and instinctively picked it up – that was how I first encountered the original manga Look Back. That night, I read it in a breath. The manga strikingly delivers the author’s determination. Although manga and film are different genres, as a fellow creator, I felt with a searing clarity that author Tatsuki Fujimoto simply couldn’t move forward without creating this work." (Hirokazu Kore-eda)
Hirokazu Kore-eda
Born in 1962 in Tokyo, Japan, Kore-eda joined TV Man Union after graduating, where he directed several prize-winning documentaries. In 1995, his directorial debut, Maborosi, entered the competition programme of the Venice International Film Festival. His second film, After Life, brought him international acclaim. His films sensitively engage with crucial human issues, often featuring children in leading roles.