Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters has been selected as Japan’s submission to the best foreign-language film category of the Academy Awards.
The film, which won the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, is Kore-eda’s second to be selected as Japan’s Oscar submisison following Nobody Knows.
Released in Japan in June, the film has become Kore-eda’s biggest box office success in his home territory, surpassing Like Father, Like Son with a gross of around $40m.
In mainland China, Shoplifters opened on August 3 and broke the record for best live-action Japanese film of all time, with a gross of more than $14m. The previous record holder was Gintama, released in 2017, which grossed $11.8m in China.
The film begins its roll-out across Europe from September and will be released in the US and UK in November.
Produced by Gaga Corp, Fuji TV and AOI Pro, the film stars Lily Franky and Ando Sakura as a couple living on the margins of society who take in a small child they find freezing on the streets.
Wild Bunch and Gaga are handling international sales.
No comments yet