Kore-eda Hirokazu Explains Why He Never Films Children Crying – and What Ken Loach and Hou Hsiao-hsien Taught Him
Kore-eda Hirokazu says he has chosen never to film a child crying, hoping viewers will remember a child’s smile and tears rather than see distress on screen. At a Singapore International Film Festival conversation, he discussed how his approach to directing young actors has changed and why he adapts his methods to each child and film.
For “Shoplifters”, “The Truth” and “Broker”, he shaped dialogue around children’s own words, while he gave the young cast scripts for “Monster” because of its sensitive subject. He drew lessons from Hou Hsiao-hsien about responding to a location and letting children play naturally, and from Ken Loach about judging each situation afresh. Kore-eda said he avoids anger, rushing or lying to child actors, aiming for them to find the shoot enjoyable.
In short
- Kore-eda says he never films children crying.
- He adapts scripts and direction to each young actor.
- Lessons from Hou and Loach shaped his approach.
Explained simply
Kore-eda Hirokazu is a Japanese film-maker known for stories about families and children, including Shoplifters and Broker. His films often work with young performers, whose experiences and ways of speaking can shape how a scene is made.
Directors use different methods when working with child actors, from giving them a script to letting them respond more freely. Taiwanese film-maker Hou Hsiao-hsien and British director Ken Loach have influenced Kore-eda’s approach to adapting his methods to the child and the situation. The choices matter because filming can affect how young performers feel, as well as how their characters and stories come across to audiences.
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