Watanabe & Lee: Japan's Oscar Hope Revived Cinema?! You Won't Believe How!

Movie theaters, remember those? In a world saturated with streaming and on-demand content, the communal experience of watching a film on the big screen can sometimes feel…well, almost archaic. But apparently, in Japan, one film, "Kokuho," is bucking that trend and single-handedly reviving moviegoing culture. At least, that's what director Lee Sang-il and star Ken Watanabe suggest.

Watanabe & Lee: Japan's Oscar Hope Revived Cinema?...

Speaking at Deadline's Screening Series event at the London Hotel in Hollywood, Watanabe, a veteran actor best known to American audiences for his Oscar-nominated performance in "The Last Samurai," made a rather bold statement: "Since Covid, many in Japan have stopped going to movie theaters. This film reminds audiences of the joy of experiencing a movie on the big screen." He went on to say that, following "Kokuho's" release, attendance for other films increased, suggesting a real, tangible influence on the Japanese film industry.

Director Lee Sang-il echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the power of characters to connect with audiences. "People connect with characters in film…They see and feel the heart of others," Lee explained. "While there are many forms of media, movie theaters hold a special place. Something comes alive in that space, allowing audiences to see their own lives reflected in the characters." It's a romantic notion, sure, but perhaps one that resonates deeply in a society that values collective experience. It certainly beats watching something alone on your phone, right?

The film itself, "Kokuho," is currently shortlisted for Oscars in the Makeup & Hairstyling and International Feature Film categories. This is no small feat, highlighting the film's artistic merit and its potential to resonate with a global audience. And while the specific plot wasn't heavily discussed in the Deadline article, the emphasis on character-driven narratives and universal themes suggests it's more than just a visually stunning spectacle. Think along the lines of other foreign films that have grabbed the collective attention, regardless of language.

For those of us in North America, Gkids, primarily known for its distribution of animated films, will be releasing "Kokuho" in select theaters starting February 6th, with a wider release planned for February 20th. It's interesting that Gkids is branching out into live-action films, perhaps signaling a shift in their distribution strategy to encompass a broader range of cinematic experiences. Whether "Kokuho" will have the same transformative effect on North American moviegoing habits remains to be seen, but it's certainly a story worth following. Maybe it's time we all remembered the magic of the big screen, huh?