Look Back Live-Action Film Exhibition Lands at Harbour City with Rare Stills
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
The live-action adaptation of Look Back, the acclaimed manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, is set to open in Hong Kong on September 17, 2026. To build anticipation, a special exhibition kicked off at Harbour City Art Gallery on September 5, running through September 27. The showcase marks the first public display of production stills from the film, which was shot on location in Fujimoto's hometown of Akita Prefecture. The exhibition also features exclusive collaborations with five renowned Hong Kong illustrators and an interactive zone where visitors can create their own four-panel manga stories.
Key Points
- Director Hirokazu Kore-eda, who won the Cannes Palme d'Or for Shoplifters, personally handled direction, scriptwriting, and editing for the film, bringing his signature delicate emotional storytelling to the project .
- The film has been selected for the main competition section at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, competing for the prestigious Golden Lion award .
- Lead actresses Natsuki Deguchi (出口夏希) and Azusa Makita (蒔田彩珠) previously worked with Kore-eda on the Netflix series Maid-Kitchen .
- Five local Hong Kong illustrators—Pen So, Don Mak, KIU, StepC., and Yuet Ba Si (月巴氏)—were invited to create original four-panel manga works inspired by Look Back's distinctive format .
- The exhibition at Shop 207, Ocean Centre, Harbour City operates daily from 11:00 to 22:00 with free admission, offering visitors complimentary special-edition four-panel manga paper .
Why It Matters
The exhibition represents a significant cultural exchange between Japanese manga traditions and Hong Kong's vibrant illustration community, showcasing how local artists interpret and reimagine internationally acclaimed source material. For Hong Kong audiences, the free exhibition provides an accessible preview of a high-profile international production before its theatrical release, while the interactive elements aim to reignite creative passion among visitors of all ages .
The exhibition represents a significant cultural exchange between Japanese manga traditions and Hong Kong's vibrant illustration community, showcasing how local artists interpret and reimagine internationally acclaimed source material. For Hong Kong audiences, the free exhibition provides an accessible preview of a high-profile international production before its theatrical release, while the interactive elements aim to reignite creative passion among visitors of all ages .