Ikematsu-kun is still young, but in the field...
It's a job that includes building relationships in the field.
Ikematsu:It is only natural. When people get together, trouble and disputes will occur. It is necessary to make a concerted effort. And this time, there was an even bigger cultural barrier. But the fact that each of them remained a family in this film, that they did not give up on the goal that was in front of them, not between them, was like a miracle in the film.
There is a scene where Mr. Ikematsu and Mr. Odagiri get hit together, and I was impressed by the way the two brothers were so scared together, and that emotional resonance was truly family. What did you do to make them act like brothers?
Ikematsu:Mr. Odagiri created the atmosphere and pulled me along, and I accepted the relationship. On the first day, I was convinced that we could look like brothers just by getting along with and opposing each other. The base was set by Mr. Ishii, and the rest was a spontaneous session, doing as we pleased. The most important thing was that I liked Mr. Odagiri as a person, which helped me a lot.
Odagiri:I was acting in director Ishii's hands, measuring the distance between "going this far and not going that far," but no matter what I did, Ikematsu-kun always responded to it. I knew that Ikematsu-kun had a good sense of balance, so I was not worried or anxious at all. So, rather than feeling like I was creating a role, I remember that I was just enjoying what was created on the spot each day.
Did your image of each other and your relationship change through this film?
Ikematsu:We had worked together in the past. The fact that we were brothers and that we shot the film in Korea and not in Japan was also significant. I still feel a special sense of being brothers. I trust and respect them very much. I would like to play brothers again.
Odagiri:I'm glad to hear that. I am afraid to be called that (laughs).
I can imagine how much fun it is to be on set.
Ikematsu:It was fun. Mr. Odagiri has done a lot of filming not only in Japan but also overseas. I was looking forward to seeing how he would work with people from different countries, but he was really bold.
Odagiri:Yeah~? Yeah?
Ikematsu:It's such boldness! I thought. I thought it was something only Mr. Odagiri could do. This time, he led not only the team of actors but also the whole scene with his boldness and humor, partly because of the role he played.
What did you find bold about it?
Ikematsu:I don't know everything about one scene, but I think he is able to choose, play with, set up, and really play with the film. It was very interesting to watch.
Odagiri:I wasn't aware of it. I'm more of a small-minded person, the type of person who measures things and closes the distance between them. I didn't think I was bold. Maybe that is because I am overseas. When you are in a foreign country, don't you feel even freer than usual? (Laughs)
I know the feeling of an open self coming out.
Odagiri:There are few people who know me, and perhaps I am enjoying the play more freely. Conversely, my impression of Ikematsu has changed dramatically. Ikematsu is still young, but he never looks at his cell phone on set (laughs).
Ikematsu:(Laughter)
Isn't that actually a great thing?
Odagiri:Yes, it's a great thing in this day and age. And they don't even bring the scripts to the site. Of course, the lines are in the script. This is something that actors of our generation have learned from their seniors. It's something like "how to be an actor," "pride. Perhaps it is because the generation younger than ours has not been taught such things, but there are actors who look at their cell phones or play "Switch" in their free time (laughs). (Laughs.) I'm not saying that it's wrong, but it's clear that they have a different level of commitment to the work. I hadn't seen an "endangered species" actor like Ikematsu in a long time, so I felt good about him (laughs).
Ikematsu:(Laughs). I don't think anything of it as long as people are touching them, but to be honest, I don't like to touch my cell phone on the set. But it's not like I've decided not to touch it at all, and there are times when I do. I was with Mr. Odagiri on the next set, and he told his co-star Kumiko Aso about it. I heard that you don't touch your cell phone at all! I couldn't touch it any more (laughs).
I got the impression that you are an actor who doesn't look at his cell phone (laughs).
Ikematsu:I was casually thinking about looking at my phone when he told me, so I quietly put it in my pocket.)
Odagiri:Mr. Aso was impressed. She's the type of person who looks at her cell phone a lot (laughs).
