K2 Pictures Shares Insight on Nanako Hirose’s ‘Between Two Lovers,’ a Talented Protégé of Hirokazu Kore-Eda

K2 Pictures Unveils Details of Nanako Hirose’s Love Triangle Drama, Between Two Lovers

K2 Pictures has announced new details regarding Between Two Lovers, the latest film from Nanako Hirose, a former assistant to acclaimed director Hirokazu Kore-eda. The love triangle drama stars Masami Nagasawa, Tasuku Emoto, and Shizuka Ishibashi.

The film explores the intricacies of love as it follows a woman, her husband, and her lover attempting to coexist under one roof. Nagasawa takes on the role of Uta, a picture book creator characterized by a mix of selfishness and charm, while Emoto portrays her husband and Ishibashi plays her lover.

“This project was born from the idea that there should be more diverse forms of family in the world," Hirose stated, reflecting on the long-evolving concept and screenplay she developed.

Between Two Lovers marks K2 Pictures’ second feature film since its establishment by former Toei producer Muneyuki Kii in 2024. The company aims to cultivate a new funding ecosystem for Japanese animated and live-action projects.

Hirose previously began her career as an assistant director for Kore-eda and Miwa Nishikawa at Bunbuku Inc., a creative collective founded by the two directors. This film follows her 2019 directorial debut, His Lost Name, which starred Yuya Yagira, known for winning the Cannes Best Actor Prize as the youngest recipient for his role in Kore-eda’s 2004 film, Nobody Knows.

The project garnered attention during its development phase, winning both the CJ ENM Award and the ARRI Award at Busan’s Asian Project Market (APM).

Nagasawa, an award-winning actress who recently received the Best Actress award at the 49th Japan Academy Film Awards for her role in Dollhouse, is widely regarded for her compelling performances. "The moment I first met Masami Nagasawa and heard her read the lines, I felt instantly that the character of Uta had come alive," Kii remarked. "Nagasawa masterfully portrays the selfish yet charming character who acts freely but is somehow impossible to hate."

Filming took place last September and October, with K2 Pictures setting a release date of November 27 in Japan.

In a notable collaboration, the film is a co-production between Japan and Taiwan, involving a team of Taiwanese crew members in cinematography and lighting, led by Yao Hung-I, known for his work on Missing Johnny and later projects by director Hou Hsiao-hsien.

K2 Pictures has released a 30-second teaser trailer for the film.