Isomura Hayato says he took a role in “the Moon,” Ishii Yuya’s drama inspired by a real incident at a facility for people with disabilities, despite people close to him advising against it. They were concerned the recent events portrayed in the film could harm his career. His performance later won the Japan Academy Film Prize for best supporting actor.
Isomura told Variety that he did not want to avoid the film’s subject or dismiss its themes of dignity and the meaning of existence. His work spans Netflix’s “Alice in Borderland,” the “Tokyo Revengers” franchise and independent films including “Plan 75” and “(Ab)normal Desire.”
At the Tokyo International Film Festival, running through Nov. 4, Isomura served on the jury for its Ethical Film Award alongside three students. The jury considered three films—an animation, a documentary and a fiction feature—and awarded the prize to “I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming,” Isabelle Stever’s drama about gender set against Russia’s war in Ukraine. Isomura said the film offered him a new perspective on war, which he described as distant from everyday life in Japan.
The winner and Brazilian animated feature “Amadeo,” set in 1830s Brazil, remained in contention until the final deliberations. Isomura said the student jurors often considered whether a film left viewers with hope, a perspective he found different from his own.
When choosing film roles, Isomura considers social and political themes. He may take a part even when he disagrees with its subject, he said, if it offers a viewpoint he has not encountered before. For television dramas, he prioritizes entertainment, saying the format does not go as deeply into ethical subjects as cinema.
Isomura would like to see more Japanese entertainment that combines political satire and black humor. He also praised the growing international reach of Japanese content, saying responses from overseas viewers have made him eager to work abroad and to represent Japanese films internationally.
He expressed optimism about Japanese cinema and cited filmmakers such as Kore-eda Hirokazu and younger directors pursuing international festival opportunities. At the same time, he said the industry needs more government funding and support, and called for greater official interest in film and entertainment.
Isomura is appearing in Yoshida Keisuke’s “Mentor,” released in Japan on Oct. 16, and said another film of his is expected to be released overseas, though it has not yet been announced. He is also producing the Shizuoka Film Festival in his home prefecture, an initiative he started to support the region and build its film culture. He said he hopes it will encourage more people to watch films in theaters.
Sources: Variety.