Hirokazu Kore-eda, the director of movie “Broker” starring Song Kang-ho, IU and Kang Dong-won, talks about the differences between Korean actors and Japanese actors

While Song Kang-ho’s Best Actor at the Cannes made headlines, “Broker” director Hirokazu Kore-eda also drew attention with his personal opinions on Korean actors and Japanese actors.

Director Hirokazu Kore-eda won the Palme d’Or, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival, for “Shoplifters” in 2018. In 2019, he co-produced the France film “The Truth”. With the Korean film “Broker”, Hirokazu Kore-eda was invited to Cannes for the 8th time.

When asked about the movie production which took place overseas in a recent interview with Japanese media at Cannes, director Hirokazu Kore-eda said, “Not long ago, I filmed a movie in France but I had no idea whether I was filming a French movie, a Korean movie or a Japanese movie. I only know that I was filming with my favorite actors in their countries.”

He continued, “This time, it was a little unbelievable for me. It is because I was able to gather top actors. It was a great experience for me, too. I think it contributed such a big help to the work”. Starring Song Kang-ho, Kang Dong-won, IU (Lee Ji-eun), Bae Doo-na and Lee Joo-young, “Broker” is a work that tells about the unexpected and special journey of people who are associated with baby boxes.

When asked, “Is it because Korean actors are better than Japanese actors that you didn’t film the movie in Japan?” Director Koreeda mentioned Sakura Ando, who starred in his work “Shoplifters” and Koji, who appeared in his 2017 production “The Third Murder,” saying, “The actors who I work with this time in Korea are very cool people, but the top actors of Japan are never inferior to those in Korea.”

When asked by reporters, “I think the level is quite high, from the top to the bottom, in Korea,” he said, “The Korean actors are always building their acting training. It seems to be a big difference to have that knowledge. I think that’s the same for France.”

Director Koreeda said, “It’s not like the actors in Japan are not trained, but I think the director, including myself, should also learn. Overseas directors learn skills properly and become directors. Even myself, I think I need to learn words or skills to communicate,” he added.

Source: insight