The upcoming film adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s first novel, A Pale View of Hills, is set to be a groundbreaking collaboration between GAGA Corporation, Bunbuku from Japan, and Number 9 Films from the U.K. The film is already in production and is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2025. This highly anticipated movie is being executive produced by Ishiguro himself and will be directed by Kei Ishikawa, known for his works such as Gukoroku: Traces of Sin and A Man, both of which premiered at the prestigious Venice Film Festival.
Leading the producing team of A Pale View of Hills is Hiroyuki Ishiguro from U-Next. The film stars Suzu Hirose, renowned for her performances in Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Our Little Sister and The Third Murder. The movie is a mystery drama that delves into the depths of a Japanese widow’s hidden memories spanning from post-war Nagasaki, Japan in the 1950s to England in the 1980s. Bunbuku from Japan, known for their work on Kore-eda’s Monster, winner of Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival, is also a part of this exciting collaboration. Number 9 Films from the U.K. has a strong track record with titles like Living and Carol under its belt.
Kazuo Ishiguro, born in Nagasaki and later moving to England, has achieved critical acclaim for his works such as Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, both of which have been successfully adapted for the screen. Ishiguro, recipient of the Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize for his debut novel, Living, has also penned the screenplay for the same, earning him an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the adaptation of A Pale View of Hills, Ishiguro praised Ishikawa’s directorial skills, citing his ability to evoke nuanced performances from his actors and craft a mysterious and moving screenplay. The author acknowledged the thematic depth of the story, centered on the aspirations and anxieties of a generation navigating post-World War Two Japan, resonating with the 80th anniversary of the war’s end.
Director Kei Ishikawa, honored by the opportunity to bring Ishiguro’s novel to life on screen, highlighted the author’s encouragement for the younger generation in Japan to undertake this cinematic endeavor. Hiroyuki Ishiguro from U-Next shared his long-held dream of adapting the novel into a Japanese-British co-production, reflecting on the challenges faced during the project’s development amidst a global pandemic and ongoing conflicts worldwide.
The collaboration between GAGA Corporation, Bunbuku, and Number 9 Films promises to deliver a cinematic masterpiece that pays tribute to the rich narrative tapestry of Kazuo Ishiguro’s A Pale View of Hills. With a stellar cast, visionary director, and a heartfelt dedication to bringing this poignant story to the big screen, this adaptation is poised to captivate audiences worldwide and solidify Ishiguro’s legacy in the realm of cinema.
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