‘Look Back’ Breakouts Furi Nanase and Rokka Okada on Growing Up on a Hirokazu Koreeda Set
Furi Nanase and Rokka Okada, the 12-year-old co-stars of Hirokazu Koreeda's coming-of-age drama "Look Back," spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about becoming close friends while filming the manga-artist rivalry story, despite arriving with very different backgrounds and levels of acting experience. The interview matters as a rare glimpse into how Koreeda, one of Japan's most celebrated directors, coaxes naturalistic performances from young, largely untrained actors, a hallmark of his acclaimed career.
Okada, a veteran of Japanese film and TV since infancy, was cast for her poise and ability to master the Akita dialect, while newcomer Nanase was chosen purely for her natural charisma. The pair, both 11 when filming began, bonded on set and turned heads together at "Look Back's" Venice premiere last week, appearing on best-dressed lists before giving their first ever interview to international press. The article also traces Koreeda's history of drawing standout child performances, including Yuya Yagira's record-setting Cannes best actor win for "Nobody Knows" (2004), as well as "Like Father, Like Son" (2013) and Palme d'Or winner "Shoplifters" (2018).
- Young "Look Back" stars Furi Nanase and Rokka Okada discuss forming a close friendship on set
- Koreeda cast them despite differing experience, drawing natural performances without scripts
- Film premiered to acclaim in Venice; director known for standout child actor work
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Furi Nanase and Rokka Okada are the two young lead actresses in "Look Back," a coming-of-age drama directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, a Japanese filmmaker best known for films such as "Shoplifters" and "Like Father, Like Son." Nanase, a newcomer with no prior acting background, and Okada, who has been working in Japanese film and television since she was a small child, play rival manga artists in the story. They were both 11 years old during filming.
Koreeda has a long-standing reputation for drawing out unusually natural, unforced performances from child actors, a skill that has previously earned his young stars major recognition, including a best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for a child performer in his 2004 film "Nobody Knows." "Look Back" recently had its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where Nanase and Okada attracted attention for their red carpet appearances.
The interview referenced in this story is significant because it offers a rare public account, in the actresses' own words, of what it is like to work as a child on a Koreeda production, and how two girls from very different backgrounds formed a friendship while making the film together.