Lee Sang-il is a Korean-Japanese film director and screenwriter known for his thought-provoking and emotionally resonant storytelling. Born in Niigata, Japan in 1974, Lee is a third-generation Korean living in Japan, a background that heavily influences his work. His debut film, Chong, a medium-length feature, offered a rare and intimate look into the lives of Zainichi Koreans—ethnic Koreans who have lived in Japan for generations—exploring themes of identity, discrimination, and cultural belonging.
Lee gained widespread acclaim with his 2006 feature film Hula Girls, a heartwarming drama based on a true story about a group of women in a declining mining town who find new purpose through hula dancing. The film struck a chord with Japanese audiences and critics alike, earning the distinction of Best Japanese Film of 2006 by Kinema Jumpo, Japan’s most prestigious film magazine. At the 2007 Japanese Academy Awards, Lee won both Best Director and Best Screenplay, firmly establishing himself as a major voice in Japanese cinema.
Continuing to expand his international profile, Lee’s 2013 film Unforgiven, a remake of Clint Eastwood’s Western classic set in Meiji-era Japan, was featured in the Special Presentation section at the Toronto International Film Festival. With a career marked by cultural introspection and artistic boldness, Lee Sang-il has used film as a medium to bridge Korean and Japanese experiences, while gaining respect both domestically and abroad for his nuanced and humanistic approach to storytelling.
