Program Note
Is there anything as tender and beautifully radiant as the way lovers gaze at each other when they fall in love? In their eyes, the world belongs solely to them, and nothing else is visible, except their beloved. Egoist is a film that captures such dazzling, sparkling light. Kosuke, a fashion magazine editor, and Ryuta, a personal trainer, experience a world they had never known before, “the world of profound love”, despite cultural and class differences. In love, they want to give everything, they feel sorry all the time, and they experience pain over things that were previously not a problem. Their love leaves fleeting moments of happiness and long-lasting wounds, but Kosuke transcends that pain to enter a new dimension of love. It is the willingness to embrace new pain while dedicating themselves to someone who once dedicated themselves to them. Based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by Takayama Makoto, this film depicts a journey where love becomes a means of salvation, and both characters discover new meaning in love and life. Although it may sound a little clichéd, it reminds us once again that “love is powerful.” (KIM Sukyun)