Taeko lives a peaceful life in a quiet Japanese town with her husband Jiro and their young son Keita until a tragic accident shatters their world: Keita dies suddenly, leaving Taeko emotionally devastated. In the midst of her grief, Park, Keita's biological father, reappears—deaf, homeless, and forgotten by society. Taeko feels responsible and begins to take care of him, which not only puts her marriage to the test, but also her own sense of self. LOVE LIFE (original title: ラブライフ), a Japanese-French drama film by Kôji Fukada, premiered in competition at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in 2022. The film was inspired by a song of the same name by musician Akiko Yano and explores the complex facets of love, loss, and personal responsibility. Fukada, known for his precise narrative style, directs LOVE LIFE, a profound story about the challenges of modern family life. The film stars Fumino Kimura as Taeko, Kento Nagayama as Jiro, and Atom Sunada as Park. Hideo Yamamoto's cinematography captures the subtle emotions of the characters, while Olivier Goinard's music underscores the melancholic atmosphere. The film was not only shown in Venice, but also at other renowned festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival. LOVE LIFE is a moving portrait of the fragility of human relationships and the search for forgiveness and a new beginning.
Love, grief, isolation: a quiet film about what connects us—and what drives us apart. Sign language gives shape to the unspeakable.
Taeko lives a peaceful life in a quiet Japanese town with her husband Jiro and their young son Keita until a tragic accident shatters their world: Keita dies suddenly, leaving Taeko emotionally devastated. In the midst of her grief, Park, Keita's biological father, reappears—deaf, homeless, and forgotten by society. Taeko feels responsible and begins to take care of him, which not only puts her marriage to the test, but also her own sense of self.
LOVE LIFE (original title: ラブライフ), a Japanese-French drama film by Kôji Fukada, premiered in competition at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in 2022. The film was inspired by a song of the same name by musician Akiko Yano and explores the complex facets of love, loss, and personal responsibility. Fukada, known for his precise narrative style, directs LOVE LIFE, a profound story about the challenges of modern family life.
The film stars Fumino Kimura as Taeko, Kento Nagayama as Jiro, and Atom Sunada as Park. Hideo Yamamoto's cinematography captures the subtle emotions of the characters, while Olivier Goinard's music underscores the melancholic atmosphere. The film was not only shown in Venice, but also at other renowned festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival. LOVE LIFE is a moving portrait of the fragility of human relationships and the search for forgiveness and a new beginning.