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Directed By: Kiyotaka Oshiyama
Streaming Service: N/A
Release Date: October 6, 2024
Rating: Unrated (I would say its PG)
Duration: 1 hour 7 minutes
Description: Popular, outgoing Fujino is celebrated by her classmates for her funny comics in the class newspaper. One day, her teacher asks her to share the space with Kyomoto, a truant recluse whose beautiful artwork sparks a competitive fervor in Fujino. What starts as jealousy transforms when Fujino realizes their shared passion for drawing. Based on the acclaimed manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of “Chainsaw Man”, Look Back captures the highs and lows of pursuing artistic excellence and the special bonds formed through creative collaboration. The heart-wrenching story is the stunning feature-length directorial debut from Kiyotaka Oshiyama that will leave you in tears and inspire you to chase your own artistic dreams.
Trailer Link: https://gkids.com/films/look-back/
Ticket Link: https://www.cinemark.com/movies/look-back
Preface
Apologies in advance for writing this so late into the run time of this film. A girl's got a life, but I care enough because I can't recommend this film enough. There's one more air date before the limited run ends so PPPLLEEEAAASSEEE go watch it!!!
Fujimoto is a mangaka I admire deeply. I follow his Chainsaw Man series VERY closely (seriously it's a horrible obsession) and I dabble in his other works. When I heard his novel Look Back was being adapted into a film, I knew I had to watch see it.
Look Back is a beautiful short film about passion, art, imposter syndrome, and a friendship that trancends interdimensional limitiations.
This story really hit me deep because I felt like this film was a one-to-one retelling of my own life. A fact about myself that I was in a very similar position to the main character Fujino. In elementary school, I made comics along with one of my friends. We had a brief falling out when I thought they started to improve at a faster rate than me. I think we discontinued the series following the dispute but I still hold that comic series near and dear to my heart. As I'm writing this, I asked my sister to see if she could find old comics (I know I have them but they're really burried into the archives).
This story is a brilliant deviation from the typical dark and gritty stories of Fujimoto's other works. It is a light hearted yet deeply intimate slice-of-life that really leans into the humble aspects of life. This film is made for the artists, the creatives, and those struggling to find purpose in their passions. If you like Blue Period and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken, this movie is one you will enjoy!
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