EXCLUSIVE: Naomi Kawase’s Yakushima’s Illusion, a late addition to Locarno’s competition line-up, has sold widely for Cinefrance International ahead of its world premiere today (August 15).
The film stars Vicky Krieps as the French coordinator of paediatric heart transplants who is sent to Japan, where she fights to save the life of a young child just as the man she loves suddenly vanishes. Rising Japanese actor Kanichiro also stars.
Cinefrance International, the global sales arm of Paris-based Cinefrance Studios, has sold the film to Happinet Phantom Studios in Japan, Caramel Films in Spain, September Film Distribution for Benelux, Nos Lusomundo in Portugal, Andrews’ Film in Taiwan, Mars Production in Turkey, MCF Megacom Film in ex-Yugoslavia and Independenta Film in Romania. Ad Vitam will release the film in France. Other territories are in discussions with Cinefrance.
Cinefrance Studios produced the film alongside Kawase for Japan’s Kumie Inc. Co-producers are Belgium’s Tarantula, Luxembourg’s Viktoria Productions, and France’s Pio & Co, Prod Lab and Marignan Films.
Yakushima’s Illusion is Kawase’s first feature since 2020 adoption drama True Mothers, which played in competition at Cannes.
Renan Artukmaç, producer and head of sales at Cinefrance, said the film is “a deeply immersive cinematic experience that combines Naomi Kawase’s signature sensitivity and visual elegance with Vicky Krieps’ heartfelt and impressive performance.”
Japanese distributor Happinet Phantom Studios added that it depicts “the reality of paediatric organ transplants in Japan through the eyes of a single medical worker from overseas. Through the voices of the characters – each treated with care and never overlooked – the story unfolds in a rich, polyphonic tapestry.” The company added: “At a time when divisions in the world are being loudly proclaimed, director Naomi Kawase’s sincere commitment to engaging with others – and her unwavering belief in the possibility of dialogue – feels increasingly vital in contemporary cinema.”
Caramel Films’ Enrique González Kuhn described the film as “a powerful piece of storytelling, visually compelling, emotionally resonant and crafted with a clear artistic vision.”