Life Is Yours, directed by Emma Kawawada, centers on Kimie, a 71-year-old cleaner who infiltrates a luxury resort owned by a foreign company that confiscated the land and caused the death of her husband. Seeking revenge, he approaches young CEO Lily, but an unexpected maternal bond develops between the two.
The Japanese production, produced by Eiko Mizuno Gray and Naoya Takahashi through Toei and Loaded Films, is one of 17 projects in development selected for the 24th Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum. Mizuno Gray produced Renoir, which was screened in competition at Cannes in 2025.
Shot in Japanese, Cantonese, and English, this drama is Kawawada’s second feature-length film, following My Small Land, which was selected for the 72nd Berlinale Generation Category in 2022 and won the Special Award at the Amnesty International Film Awards. Variety magazine named Kawawada one of Japan’s emerging directors at Cannes in 2025.
Mr. Kawawada talked about the appeal of this subject as follows. “I became interested in places in Japan where prices have soared due to the inbound tourism boom and Japanese people can no longer easily go there for leisure.Although these places are located in Japan, they are starting to look like resorts created mainly for foreign tourists.In my previous work, I portrayed a foreign minority living in Japan, but in this work I wanted to reverse the perspective and depict the Japanese people who are, in a sense, a minority within their own country.”
The director explained the thematic focus of the film. “This film explores the tension between hatred and empathy, and depicts both the difficulty and fragile hope of human connection across racial and social divides.”
Producer Naoya Takahashi explained his reasons for supporting this project. “I was strongly attracted to director Emma Kawawada’s attempt to depict complex human relationships, where bonds that begin with revenge gradually transcend hatred, against the backdrop of Japan’s land and landscape that are being transformed by global capital, and I decided to participate in this film, believing in the great potential of this vision.”
Mizuno Gray emphasized the timeliness of the project. “I decided to take part in this film after reading Emma Kawawada’s statement. I was especially drawn to the director’s approach, which delicately depicts both the hope and difficulties of understanding differences in a world that is increasingly unstable. I felt that this was a film that needed to be made now, especially in this era.”
The producer outlined the purpose of HAF. “Collaboration with Asian partners is essential to more authentically portray non-Japanese Asian families in our stories. Through this platform, we hope to meet potential Asian co-production partners and connect with international sales companies who can help us develop a global strategy for the film.”
Kawawada made her debut with the short story “Circle” in 2012 while still a student. Since 2014, he has been a member of Bunbuku, a production company founded by director Hirokazu Kore-eda. It won the Arte International Award at the Asia Project Market held in Busan in 2018. Selected for the Japan Film Frontier Program in 2024.
Naoya’s works at Toei include “Hot Gimmick” and “Anime Supremacy!”. “Bait” won the TAICCA award at the NAFF Project Market. His latest film “Dear Stranger” was selected for the 2025 Busan International Film Festival.
Mizuno Gray’s credits at Loaded Films include “To the Ends of the Earth” and “Plan 75,” which won the Cannes Camera d’Or Special Prize and was the 2023 Japanese Oscar winner.
The project is seeking funding, co-producers and distributors at HAF, which will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center from March 17th to 19th.
