From birth to death, every human being charts their own distinct coordinates through various forms of relationships. From the families we did not choose to friends and lovers, our care and affection continuously reach outward towards those around us as well as ourselves. Amy and Rosie, two women working as social workers, care for people within an institutional framework. Yet, the wellintentioned words they offer to people in desperate circumstances inadvertently cause wounds and alienation. Meanwhile, they also exchange tolerance and love with those closest to them, including lovers and family members. Even so, these bonds are often clumsy, misaligned, or brought to an unwanted end. Mike Leigh delicately gauges the various forms of personal, social, and institutional relationships experienced by the characters, as well as the subtle distances existing in each connection. We are all alone, yet together. And we still need love.
Mike Leigh is a screenwriter and film director who studied directing and acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and the London Film School. He made his feature film debut with Bleak Moments (1971), won the Palme d′Or at the Cannes Film Festival for Secrets and Lies (1996), and won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for Vera Drake (2004). His subsequent directorial works include Happy-Go-Lucky (2008), Mr. Turner (2014), and Hard Truths (2025). His new film, Tender Loving Care, was invited to the Competition section of the San Sebastián International Film Festival.
From Busan International Film Festival 2026, No. 31
