Joe Hisaishi, Did He Send a Love Call to Kogonada First for 'Big Bold Beautiful'?

Kogonada's new film 〈Big Bold Beautiful〉 is generating hot topics as it marks the first Hollywood project of renowned music director Joe Hisaishi, who is considered a giant in the film music industry. 〈Big Bold Beautiful〉 tells the story of two people who meet at a friend's wedding and embark on a journey guided by a mysterious navigation system, opening a magical door that leads them back to the past.

Joe Hisaishi, who has gained immense love as a master in film music by completing the OSTs of masterpieces representing Studio Ghibli such as 〈My Neighbor Totoro〉, 〈Spirited Away〉, 〈Princess Mononoke〉, and 〈Howl's Moving Castle〉, has participated in the music work for the film 〈Big Bold Beautiful〉, drawing global attention. This has sparked even more interest as it is his first work with a Hollywood studio.

Kogonada, the director of 〈Big Bold Beautiful〉, revealed in an interview that music director Joe Hisaishi reached out first after hearing about the film's production. He recalled, "When I received a message asking if I was interested in collaborating with Joe Hisaishi, it felt like I had opened a magical door." He also mentioned, "It was something I never imagined. If I hadn't received that contact from him, I wouldn't have even had the courage to think about it," reflecting on that dreamlike moment.

As Kogonada mentioned that he drew a lot of inspiration from Hayao Miyazaki's animations while working on 〈Big Bold Beautiful〉, the musical world of Joe Hisaishi, with whom he has worked for a long time, enriched the film's emotions in unexpected ways. Kogonada expressed, "His music is unique. It is simple yet complex, building emotions intricately within dynamic rhythms," and shared his deep trust and affection, stating, "I love Joe Hisaishi's music, which evokes a sense of mystery while being based on human experience." He also added, "The sensibilities and meanings of Joe Hisaishi are truly moving. It was an unforgettable collaboration. I will carry it to my grave," sharing his thoughts on their partnership.

Thus, the film 〈Big Bold Beautiful〉, completed based on mutual respect and trust, is expected to provide audiences with overwhelming resonance, combining the fantastic visual beauty of 'romantic visualist' Kogonada and the emotional melodies of 'melody magician' Joe Hisaishi.