Kore-eda's Protégé Unveils Polyamorous Romantic Drama 'Between Two Lovers'

Japanese director Nanako Hirose, who trained under Hirokazu Kore-eda at Bunbuku Inc., unveils her second feature film, 'Between Two Lovers'. The film centers on Uta, a married woman who pursues a simultaneous relationship with a female lover, proposing a shared lifestyle among the three.

The film is set for release on November 27 in Japan. Hirose says the film was born from the idea that there should be more diverse forms of family in the world. The premise first came to her during the pandemic, and she has spent the years since developing and writing the screenplay.

The main cast includes Masami Nagasawa, winner of the best actress award at the 49th Japan Academy Awards for 'Dollhouse', as Uta. Tasuku Emoto plays her husband Morio, and Shizuka Ishibashi, who will headline the NHK Morning Drama Series 'Blossom', plays Junna, Uta's lover and editor.

Nagasawa describes her character as a mix of ideals, reality, and a sense of justice, drawing people in with her honesty. Emoto describes the project as a story about love with clumsy but longing characters. Ishibashi sees her character as clumsy and prickly, but with a childlike softness inside.

The film is a Japan-Taiwan co-production, with Taiwanese cinematographer Yao Hung-I, known for his work with Hou Hsiao-hsien, handling the photography. Filming took place in September and October of last year, and the film is already complete.

HIMI, a popular Japanese singer-songwriter, composed the score, marking his first time scoring a full feature. The project was developed by Bunbuku and is being produced and distributed by K2 Pictures, a Tokyo-based company.

K2 Pictures, founded in 2023 by former Toei producer Muneyuki Kii, is positioning itself as a disruptive force in the Japanese film industry. The company seeks a fund-based financing model to increase profits for creators and attract both domestic and international investment.

The K2P Film Fund I has drawn investment from major Japanese financial institutions, including MUFG Bank and the Development Bank of Japan. Kii serves as executive producer on 'Between Two Lovers', with Daiju Koide producing.

The film first attracted industry attention at the script stage, winning the CJ ENM Award and the ARRI Award at the Asian Project Market (APM) within Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market in 2023.

Hirose built her career as an assistant director within Bunbuku, the creators’ collective founded by Kore-eda in 2014, which has served as a launchpad for emerging Japanese directors. Hirose’s directorial debut, 'His Lost Name', premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in 2018.