We spoke to up-and-coming director Miho O, whose third feature film, "Where the Light Shines Only," released in 2014, won numerous awards, including the Best Director Award at the 38th Montreal World Film Festival, about her new film, "You're a Good Child," which opens on the 27th of this month. The director's latest venture is an adaptation of the novel "You're a Good Child" by Hatsue Nakawaki, which won the 28th Tsubota Joji Literary Award. This film, her first ensemble drama, explores contemporary social issues such as child abuse, neglect, parental abuse, and dementia. While the story deals with a serious subject, the characters, played by actors Kengo Kora, Machiko Ono, Chizuru Ikewaki, and Yasuko Tomita, are sometimes confused and hurt, but through their interactions with others, they find salvation, gain new realizations, and move forward. It's a tender work that leaves viewers with a warm feeling in their hearts upon completion. Director Wu said that when he read the original novel, "I was drawn into the world of the work, first as a reader." Regarding the contemporary social issues addressed in the film, he said, "For example, 'abuse,' in the past, was expressed in different terms, such as violence, punishment, and discipline. The blanket term 'abuse' narrows the meaning and leads to a certain sense of isolation. Humans have gray areas and intermingling. So I hope this film can help people take a step forward, or feel a sense of salvation, a life-sized salvation, without exaggeration." In this film, rookie elementary school teacher Tadashi Okano is played by Kengo Kora, and Masami Mizuki, a mother who hit her daughter and herself was a victim of parental violence, is played by Machiko Ono. Before filming, the actors portraying the characters were asked to imagine their characters' lives, which were not written in the script, and spent time discussing their roles with the director. "Because of these discussions, we were able to condense the many facets of each character into the short time each character appears in, which is typical of an ensemble drama," says Director Wu. He also recalls the roughly three-week location shoot in Otaru in the early summer of 2014, saying, "We shot on location in one go to keep the actors engaged, and condensed the worldview of the film."

This film took three years to produce, starting with reading the original novel in 2012. When asked about the unique appeal of film, the director said, "First of all, film requires a long period of time to create something. Like pottery, there is a lot of work involved in refining it. This time, we set aside about two years for planning and preparation in order to incorporate our thoughts as creators into the script. Also, television and advertising have a sense of the 'now,' whereas I believe film is 'universal.' That's why I approached the film with a sense of urgency, trying to convey a universal and pure message."

Finally, when asked for a message for those who will be watching the film, he said, "Everyone has their own standards for happiness. So I hope this film will inspire people to ask themselves, 'What does happiness mean to me?' "I would be happy if this film gives people an opportunity to think about this." Director Wu's works leave a lasting impression. Although they depict the life of someone in a city somewhere, there are parts that resonate with the emotions of the viewer. His new film, "You're a Good Kid," is filled with many moments when people save others. This film will make you realize that the things that can satisfy the desire we all have to be recognized by others are actually very close to us.