#Ayumu Fujino

[chell-min]

thank you, fujino.

[senjo]

[absorbingblue]

look back

[sneakydraws]

Kyomoto is winning the race!

[ydotome]

Look Back - Dir. Kiyotaka Oshiyama - July 14, 2024

[taffybuns]

why do you draw, fujino?

[umilini-blush]

[twinkle-art]

why do you draw, fujino?

[afterthelambs]

⚠️Spoilers for Look Back but I was initially confused about what Fujino and Kyomoto's relationship had to do with pursuing a career as a mangaka. After thinking about it, I interpret it as a narrative device to represent what will come when choosing to pursue art (of any form, whether it's comics, painting, animation, music, etc.).

Think about it, what's Kyomoto's role in the story? She is what got Fujino to take art seriously in middle school, and what motivated her to continue after she initially gave up. However, she's also the only thing in the story that makes Fujino wish she quit art. First, halfway through 6th grade and then later after her death. She serves as Fujino's motivator and de-motivator.

I think the scene of Fujino wishing that she never told Kyomoto to come out (that pursuing art only led to suffering) represents artists' regrets. We literally look back and see an alternate universe where Fujino never pursued art and it has a happier ending. Anyone that pursues artistic dreams will end up regretting it at some point. It's not easy, any artist will tell you that. The story is saying yes, you probably will end up healthier and more stable by giving up your dreams. Because art is suffering.

But then Fujino enters Kyomoto's room after reading the comic from the alternate reality and all of a sudden we get a montage of the happy memories and accomplishments they had pursuing their dreams together. And we realize that, everything we saw of them in the alternate 'happier' reality pales in comparison to this:

The happiest both of them look in that alternate world is when they finally meet and promise to work together someday. They loved art. They loved each other. Giving up on your dreams means missing out on all of that, and nothing in the world can replace it. Because yes art is suffering, but art is also joy and love.

And so the end of the story where Fujino goes back to work isn't her moving on. She tapes the comic strip in front of her to remind her of Kyomoto, to remind her of why she got into comics in the first place. Basically, Kyomoto IS art to Fujino. A life with her means experiencing both suffering and joy, while the life without her means having none of that.

I might be wrong about this, like maybe Fujimoto just wanted to tell a mangaka story with doomed yuri (valid) HOWEVER i like my interpretation so im sticking with it.

[duckmeat-woohoo]

"Why do you draw, Fujino?" This is absolutely my favorite film of the year, I'm in awe. I love Tatsuki Fujimoto's work so I was very excited when I heard Look Back was getting it's own movie. But Look Back is already a perfect story in manga form so I didn't think it could be improved. That was until director Kyotaka Oshiyama adapted it into this film. I watched it four times, FOUR TIMES in theatres because I was just so blown away the first time I watched it. I had written down some notes to capture my initial thoughts and feelings about the movie but it's really messy and unorganized so you'd have to ask me in person on what I thought about the film (and I WILL talk your ear off!). But all I can say is, this movie is amazing and if you're an artist whose struggled in their art journey and felt alone this movie, Look Back, is for you!

[criticalamityz]

come out

[susomel]

[senjo]

[anicomicsicons]

Look back headers ✏️🎨🖌️

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© @batgirlbarbf

[silvadour]

[ydotome]

Look Back - Dir. Kiyotaka Oshiyama - July 14, 2024