On November 30, the film "Like Father, Like Son" held its premiere at Shanghai Film City SHO. Director Hiroshi Kurosawa and actor Lily Frank came to Shanghai to connect warmly with fans.

Poster for the film "Like Father, Like Son"

This film is one of the representative works of Japanese director Hiroshi Kurosawa, featuring talented Japanese actors Masaharu Fukuyama, Machiko Ono, Yoko Maki, and Lily Frank. It won the Jury Prize at the 66th Cannes Film Festival and has a high Douban rating of 8.7. The film has officially been set to premiere nationwide on December 6.

Although it was filmed over a decade ago, its return to the big screen still feels fresh, with deeply moving emotions.

"Like Father, Like Son" tells a story about "switched at birth." One family, the Nonomiya family, is affluent and embodies a modern urban atmosphere, while the other, the Saiki family, is modest and full of the warmth of everyday life. Due to a hospital mix-up, the two children were switched at birth, and six years later, the truth comes to light, completely disrupting the lives of both families. On one hand lies the blood bond of family ties, and on the other, the emotional bonds formed by living together. What was once a peaceful and happy life is shattered. Beyond blood ties lies a precise understanding of real life and a deeper reflection on familial connections. Through the confusion, uncertainty, and struggles of these two families, the director invites the audience to contemplate "What is parenthood?", "What is family?", and "What is home?".

Message from Hiroshi Kurosawa to the Chinese audience

When discussing his creative intentions, Hiroshi Kurosawa shared with the audience that many of the themes in his films are related to family. "A lot of inspiration comes from my own life. For instance, during times of losing my father or mother, or when I had children, changes in family dynamics evoke certain feelings that fuel my creativity."

"Like Father, Like Son" reflects this sentiment, as Kurosawa candidly admitted that at the time of having a child, he felt uncertain, saying, "I became a father but didn't really feel like one, which left me very confused. This was one of the starting points for creating this film."

Creative team of "Like Father, Like Son" attends the Shanghai premiere

In Kurosawa's films, the characters' intense emotions are often conveyed through unspoken actions and expressions. The director admits, "I'm not someone who expresses my inner feelings well and don't use words to convey my emotions. That's why you'll often see characters in my films who are somewhat inept at communicating." In the film, the mothers express their emotions more openly while the fathers come across as awkward. Kurosawa mentioned, "I was possibly thinking that women express feelings among each other more easily, while men sometimes let jealousy cloud their judgment; perhaps that's a point worth contemplating."

Lily Frank, who plays the role of the Saiki family's son, has portrayed a father more than once. Whether it’s as the biological father who has a dual parenting role or as a non-biological family member in "Shoplifters", he stated that deep love is the consistent core of fatherhood in Kurosawa's films, and capturing the various complexities and layers in each performance is always a challenge.

Lily Frank

The other father figure in the film, Masaharu Fukuyama, who could not attend in person, sent a video greeting to the Chinese audience, sharing his feelings about working with Hiroshi Kurosawa and his understanding of the film. Fukuyama remarked, "Good works can transcend time and space, much like classics from Shakespeare, 'Water Margin', or 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. I hope 'Like Father, Like Son' can also become a timeless piece that people cherish."

Regarding his collaboration with the director, Fukuyama mentioned, "'Like Father, Like Son' was my first collaboration with director Kurosawa. He is incredibly talented on set, with new developments emerging in the script every day." The theme of "family," which threads through nearly all of Kurosawa's films, also resonated with him. "I believe the concept of 'family' changes with the times and one’s own family circumstances. Perhaps blood ties don’t truly equate to being a family; this film also explores very important themes within human relationships, and I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts."

Masaharu Fukuyama sends a greeting via VCR

In the auditorium of Shanghai Film City, facing the enthusiastic and youthful audience, Hiroshi Kurosawa said, "For all the young friends here today, this film will certainly bring a different perspective when you have children of your own. I believe that many of you will get married and start families, and I hope by then you will want to return to the cinema to watch this film again. That was my goal in creating this film."

Lily Frank and Hiroshi Kurosawa wear panda hats gifted by fans

On-site, enthusiastic fans gifted adorable panda hats and mushrooms to the creators. Director Hiroshi Kurosawa and Lily Frank happily wore the hats and took photos with the audience.