Chloe Zhao and Kore-eda Hirokazu's conversation at the Tokyo International Film Festival has left two of cinema's most innovative minds in tears, each moved by the other's work. The emotional connection between these two auteurs is palpable, revealing a striking similarity in how they approach their craft.
Kore-eda watched Zhao's "Hamnet" with great difficulty, unable to contain his emotions as he reflected on the film's exploration of storytelling and human experience. "I couldn't stop crying," he confessed, moved by the way the film captures the pain of loss and the power of art to bring us closer together.
Zhao, meanwhile, had been watching Kore-eda's 1998 masterpiece "After Life" when she was feeling particularly emotional. The film's themes of mortality, memory, and the human condition resonated deeply with her own work on "Hamnet," which explores the inner lives of its characters as they grapple with loss.
Both directors have a unique approach to storytelling, one that emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty and finding meaning in the unknown. For Zhao, this means creating films that are deeply personal and emotionally resonant, often exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the human condition.
Kore-eda's process is similarly intuitive, relying on his instincts as a filmmaker to guide him through the creative process. He creates storyboards but abandons them once on set, preferring to explore each scene with his actors in real-time. This approach allows for a level of spontaneity and creativity that can lead to truly innovative storytelling.
One area where Zhao and Kore-eda share common ground is their commitment to capturing the beauty of everyday life on screen. For both directors, the mundane details of existence – laundry, cooking, daily routines – hold a deep significance that can elevate the viewer's experience.
Zhao's films often feature long takes and cinematic landscapes, creating a sense of wonder and awe in the viewer. Her latest film, "Hamnet," is no exception, featuring stunning cinematography and a nuanced exploration of Shakespeare's inner life.
Kore-eda's approach is more minimalist, relying on the subtle nuances of performance and setting to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. His films often feature long takes and carefully composed shots, creating a meditative pace that invites the viewer to slow down and appreciate the beauty in everyday life.
Despite their differences, Zhao and Kore-eda share a deep respect for one another's work, acknowledging the debt they owe to each other as filmmakers. Their conversation at the Tokyo International Film Festival was a testament to this mutual admiration, with both directors opening up about their creative processes and inspirations.
Looking ahead, it seems clear that both Zhao and Kore-eda will continue to push the boundaries of cinematic storytelling, exploring new themes and ideas in their work. Whether through the lens of Shakespeare's inner life or the everyday experiences of ordinary people, these two visionary filmmakers are committed to creating films that inspire, provoke, and challenge us.
Ultimately, their conversation at the Tokyo International Film Festival serves as a reminder of the power of cinema to connect us, to move us, and to transform our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. As we watch their films, we are invited into a world of beauty, wonder, and meaning – a world that is both familiar and strange, yet ultimately, truly human.
Kore-eda watched Zhao's "Hamnet" with great difficulty, unable to contain his emotions as he reflected on the film's exploration of storytelling and human experience. "I couldn't stop crying," he confessed, moved by the way the film captures the pain of loss and the power of art to bring us closer together.
Zhao, meanwhile, had been watching Kore-eda's 1998 masterpiece "After Life" when she was feeling particularly emotional. The film's themes of mortality, memory, and the human condition resonated deeply with her own work on "Hamnet," which explores the inner lives of its characters as they grapple with loss.
Both directors have a unique approach to storytelling, one that emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty and finding meaning in the unknown. For Zhao, this means creating films that are deeply personal and emotionally resonant, often exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the human condition.
Kore-eda's process is similarly intuitive, relying on his instincts as a filmmaker to guide him through the creative process. He creates storyboards but abandons them once on set, preferring to explore each scene with his actors in real-time. This approach allows for a level of spontaneity and creativity that can lead to truly innovative storytelling.
One area where Zhao and Kore-eda share common ground is their commitment to capturing the beauty of everyday life on screen. For both directors, the mundane details of existence – laundry, cooking, daily routines – hold a deep significance that can elevate the viewer's experience.
Zhao's films often feature long takes and cinematic landscapes, creating a sense of wonder and awe in the viewer. Her latest film, "Hamnet," is no exception, featuring stunning cinematography and a nuanced exploration of Shakespeare's inner life.
Kore-eda's approach is more minimalist, relying on the subtle nuances of performance and setting to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. His films often feature long takes and carefully composed shots, creating a meditative pace that invites the viewer to slow down and appreciate the beauty in everyday life.
Despite their differences, Zhao and Kore-eda share a deep respect for one another's work, acknowledging the debt they owe to each other as filmmakers. Their conversation at the Tokyo International Film Festival was a testament to this mutual admiration, with both directors opening up about their creative processes and inspirations.
Looking ahead, it seems clear that both Zhao and Kore-eda will continue to push the boundaries of cinematic storytelling, exploring new themes and ideas in their work. Whether through the lens of Shakespeare's inner life or the everyday experiences of ordinary people, these two visionary filmmakers are committed to creating films that inspire, provoke, and challenge us.
Ultimately, their conversation at the Tokyo International Film Festival serves as a reminder of the power of cinema to connect us, to move us, and to transform our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. As we watch their films, we are invited into a world of beauty, wonder, and meaning – a world that is both familiar and strange, yet ultimately, truly human.
Kore-eda's approach seems so intuitive and effortless, while Zhao's films are just so... personal. what if we combined some of those elements? 
. It's like they're speaking the same language, you know? Both of them are all about capturing the beauty in everyday life, but in different ways. Chloe's films are like a warm hug, you know? They're so intimate and emotional. And then Kore-eda's films are like a gentle breeze on a summer day 
. So calming and meditative.
. It's like they're saying, "Hey, life is messy, but we can find beauty in it." And that's something I think we can all relate to.
. They're like two artists who have found a sense of community and understanding. Which is exactly what cinema should be about 
. It reminded me why I love film so much in the first place.
Zhao's "Hamnet" is like my favorite thing ever - the cinematography in it gives me goosebumps every time 
and koreeda's "After Life" is like... what even is that magic? 
anyway, i think what really gets me about these two is how they're both so committed to exploring the human condition. there's something so relatable about watching their films that just makes you feel seen, you know? 
like who needs a script when u got instincts & intuition right? 
it's so inspiring to see how he creates a sense of atmosphere and mood through subtle performances and compositions.
her long takes and cinematic landscapes are just wow!
it's clear that their conversation at the Tokyo International Film Festival was all about mutual admiration and support.