On Sunday, November 24, at 10:00 AM, the film “Rude to Love” was screened at Hall 1 of the NTT CRED Hall.

The story follows Momoko (played by Ms. Noriko EGUCHI), who lives in an annex on the grounds of her husband’s (Koutaro KOIZUMI) family estate. She leads a life dedicated to the concept of "mindful living." However, unsettling events around her gradually disrupt her daily life, leading her to develop an abnormal obsession with the space beneath the floorboards. The film has received critical acclaim internationally, being officially selected for the Competition Section of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic and the Hong Kong International Film Festival.

After the screening, Director Yukihiro MORIGAKI appeared for a talk show with moderator Ms. Minori KANENAGA. A Hiroshima native, Dir. MORIGAKI was participating in the Hiroshima International Film Festival for the second time since 2018. “Hiroshima is a culturally rich city with many art museums. I’m delighted that a festival like this has been running for so long,” he remarked in his opening address.

When Ms. KANENAGA mentioned Ms. EGUCHI’s commanding performance, Dir. MORIGAKI responded, “She elevates what I’m looking for by tenfolds. She’s an incredibly focused and resilient actor.” He shared that they had numerous discussions during filming to create scenes that more effectively conveyed Momoko’s emotions, highlighting the intentions behind her expressions and actions in the final scenes.

Known for tackling social themes in his works, Dir. MORIGAKI explained his vision for this film as an "antithesis to an anchorless world." “In a society fixated on productivity and numbers, there’s no room for flexibility. After reading Shūichi YOSHIDA’s original novel, I felt that Momoko’s sense of displacement and loss of place resonated with contemporary issues, so I was eager to adapt it into a film,” he shared about the production's background.

During the Q&A session, audience members raised questions like, “Is Momoko’s mindful lifestyle truly what she desires?” and shared reflections such as, “In the film, no one says ‘thank you’ to Momoko. It made me think about whether I express my gratitude properly.” Dir. MORIGAKI responded, “There are many ways to interpret the story, and I avoid holding onto definitive answers myself. It would make me happy if people discussed their thoughts over coffee after watching the movie.”

When Ms. KANENAGA asked about his future aspirations, Dir. MORIGAKI said, “During my lifetime, I absolutely want to make a film centered on war and peace. It’s a true privilege to use cinema as a tool to engage in conversations like this with all of you. I’ll work hard so that I can bring new films to the people of Hiroshima.” His words received thunderous applause from the audience.