A Lonely Girl Faces the Fear of Loss with Fierce Imagination
Sneak Preview Screening: "Renoir" followed by a Q&A
with director Chie Hayakawa and
actors Hikari Ishida, Lily Franky and Yui Suzuki
Tuesday, June 10 at 5:30 pm*
*Please note early start time.
In Japanese, English with English, Japanese subtitles
Japan/France/Singapore/Philippines/Indonesia/Qatar 2025 120 minutes
Written and directed by: Chie Hayakawa
Produced by: Eiko Mizuno-Gray, Jason Gray, Keisuke Konishi,
Christophe Bruncher, Fran Borgia
Starring: Yui Suzuki, Hikari Ishida, Lily Franky,
Yuumi Kawai, Ryuta Bando
Film courtesy of HPS Studio
Gifted director Chie Hayakawa received a Camera d'Or Special Mention in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for her first feature, "Plan 75," and she has now earned a coveted main competition slot at this year’s venerable celebration of cinema with her sophomore feature, "Renoir." The film will have its world premiere and compete for the Palme d'Or in late May.
Billed as a young girl's coming-of-age tale, "Renoir" is so much more than that, from a richly layered journey through an earlier era and its seemingly simpler concerns, to a poignant drama about a family falling apart, to a tribute to the healing power of the imagination.
Set in 1980s Tokyo, in the waning years of the bubble economy, the film follows Fuki Okita (Suzuki), a precocious 11-year-old whose father, Keiji (Franky), is battling terminal cancer. Because Fuki's mother, Utako (Ishida), must work full time as well as care for Keiji as he moves in and out of the hospital, her daughter is left to her own devices. Fortunately, Fuki is an independent-minded girl, and finds all manner of curiosities to explore.
But she clearly thirsts for human connections. For brief spells, she's able to quell her isolation through a series of unusual encounters - with a rich classmate whose family situation is less perfect than it seems; with her English teacher, who takes her surfing; with other children at summer camp - as well as to pursue her interests in telepathy, dowsing and voodoo. Fuki also becomes fascinated with a telephone dating service and agrees to meet a college student with whom she's developed a friendship. Or so she thinks.
While "Plan 75" depicted a near future in which Japan’s elderly are forced to choose between life and death, "Renoir" probes society's emotional erosion, reminding us that while children can be resilient, they will always need our care and guidance.
Please join us for this sneak preview of the beguiling "Renoir" before the Japan release on June 20.
For more (in Japanese): https://happinet-phantom.com/renoir/
Writer-director CHIE HAYAKAWA studied photography at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her short film, "Niagara" (2014), was selected for the Cinéfondation section at the Cannes Film Festival and received awards at numerous international film festivals. Her short film "Plan 75" was the opening segment of anthology feature "Ten Years Japan" (2018), executive-produced by Hirokazu Kore-eda. The short was expanded into her feature film debut "Plan 75," which was awarded the Camera d'Or Special Mention at Cannes Film Festival 2022. In 2025, her "Renoir" became the only Japanese film in Competition at Cannes.
Actress HIKARI ISHIDA made her film debut in Nobuhiko Obayashi's "Chizuko's Younger Sister" (1991), winning numerous newcomer awards at film festivals. While pursuing a career in television and stage, highlights of her recent film work include "Homestay" (2022), "Blue Period" (2024), "90 Years Old – So What?" (2024), "Let's Meet at Angie's Bar" (2025) and the upcoming "Rewrite" (2025).
Actor, writer and illustrator LILY FRANKY is one of Japan's most celebrated actors, and is known globally for his award-winning performances in Hirokazu Kore-eda's "Like Father, Like Son" (2013) and "Shoplifters" (2018). He has recently starred in the international coproductions "Cottontail" (UK-Japan, 2024) and "Diamonds in the Sand" (Philippines-Japan-Malaysia, 2025).
Young actress YUI SUZUKI began her career in 2024, appearing in "Touch," winner of the Grand Prix at the 45th Pia Film Festival, "Two People," "No Smoking Here!" and "March 11." After appearing in the 2025 film "The Boy and the Dog," she stars in her first lead role with the Cannes Competition film "Renoir."
Please make your reservations at the FCCJ Reception Desk 03 3211-3161 or from the event page.
All film screenings are private, noncommercial events primarily for FCCJ members and their guests.
- Karen Severns, Film Committee