Japanese/ French co-production included as part of Cannes Director's Fortnight

by Chris MaGee

Last Thursday the full line-up for the 62nd Cannes International Film Festival was announced and fans of Japanese cinema were left feeling a little underwhelmed. The only real Japanese film in the bunch is Hirokazu Kore-eda's "Kuuki Ningyou" starring Korean actress Bae Doo-na as an inflatable sex doll who comes to life. Besides that Cannes audiences can catch glimpses of Japan in Isabel Coixet's "Map of the Sounds of Tokyo" and Gaspar Noe's "Enter the Void", both of which were filmed on location in Tokyo.

Now, with the announcement of the Cannes Director's Fortnight programme, Japanese cinema fans have a little more to look forward to. Amongst the nearly 40 films announced is "Yuki and Nina", a Japanese/ French co-production that is also co-directed by Nobuhiro Suwa and Hippolyte Girardot. The film tells the story of Yuki, a half French/ half Japanese girl, whose parents are separating. When Yuki is told she will be returning to Japan with her mother she decides the only thing she can do to preserve her world is run away to the forest with her best friend Nina.

Nobuhiro Suwa's previous credits include 1999's "M/Other" and 2001's "H Story", while "Yuki & Nina" marks Hippolyte Girardot's debut as an director. He is best known for his acting roles in films like Frédéric Mermoud's "Parallel Parking" and Hou Hsiao-hsien's "Flight of the Red Balloon".

You can check out the full line-up for the Director's Fortnight by clicking here.