Japanese Film ‘Living in Two Worlds’ Achieves International Sales Breakthrough to China, Korea, Taiwan
In a significant development for Japanese cinema, the film ‘Living in Two Worlds’ has successfully secured international distribution deals in various territories including Hong Kong through Edko, Taiwan via Sky Digi, Hugoeast in China, MediaCastle in South Korea, Falcon in Indonesia, and Lev Cinema in Israel, as well as in-flight services provided by Encore. Since its premiere in Japan on September 13, the film has amassed a box office gross exceeding 90.3 million yen, which is roughly equivalent to $615,000, with Gaga Corporation overseeing its representation.
The film made its debut in competition at the prestigious Shanghai International Film Festival and is slated to participate in the BFI London Film Festival, marking a prominent start on the international stage.
Directed by Mipo O, ‘Living in Two Worlds’ features a cast that includes Ryo Yoshizawa, Akiko Oshidari, and Akito Imai. The narrative is adapted from an autobiographical essay by Dai Igarashi, a project that producer Hideyuki Yamakuni pursued after obtaining the rights to Igarashi’s work. Yamakuni expressed his initial doubts over whether O would accept the directing role, given her hiatus from the film industry to focus on family responsibilities. However, he felt a strong conviction that O’s unique ability to depict a son’s growth through a mother’s lens would be invaluable for this story.
The film’s storyline revolves around Dai, who is raised in a rural Japanese setting by deaf parents. As he matures, Dai grapples with feelings of alienation and blames his deaf mother for his struggles. At the age of 20, he migrates to Tokyo to work as a magazine journalist. The pivotal moment occurs when Dai returns home after an eight-year absence, triggering buried memories as he reconnects with his mother.
Mipo O previously garnered acclaim for directing ‘The Light Shines Only There,’ which won her the Best Director Award at the Montreal World Film Festival and was submitted as Japan’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars. Her follow-up project, ‘Being Good,’ received the NETPAC Award for best Asian film at the Moscow International Film Festival.
With its rich narrative and emotional depth, ‘Living in Two Worlds’ is poised to resonate with audiences beyond Japan, solidifying its place on the global stage.