Realism and research underpin film with autistic protagonist

Syoutarou Kobayasi took inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock, among other sources, when directing “Lives at Right Angles.” | © 2026 “LIVES AT RIGHT ANGLES” FILM PARTNERS

Aug 30, 2026

Medical melodramas are a staple film genre in Japan. As a producer once told me, these narratives are a good box office bet because Japanese audiences love to cry.

But domestic films that address illness or disability can also be unblinkingly realistic and populated by characters who are flawed humans, rather than stainless victims or selfless saints. And if tears come, they are earned, not extracted. 

The latest in this line is “Lives at Right Angles” by Syoutarou Kobayasi (as he prefers to romanize his name). The director sat down with The Japan Times for a wide-ranging interview about the development of the film and the experiences and ideas that guided his approach to its subject matter.

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