[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] “I don’t know what the situation is like in Korea, but if Korea is in a similar situation to Japan, I hope this film serves as a catalyst for change.”

Director Tomoki Fujino, who directed the documentary *What Should We Have Done?*, which chronicles 20 years of history, made these remarks as he reflected on the process of beginning this project and bringing the film to neighboring South Korea.
Director Fujino sat down for an interview with Edaily on the 29th at the Etnine Film headquarters in Seoul. “What Should I Have Done?” is a documentary that captures the most personal and shocking account of a younger brother who spent over 20 years documenting the life of his family—specifically his parents, who locked his older sister, who exhibited symptoms of schizophrenia, out of the house under the guise of “family.”
Director Fujino documented 20 years of his life with his sister, who has schizophrenia, and his parents, who refused to acknowledge her illness and kept her confined at home. Director Fujino’s sister, who had been a promising medical student, began showing symptoms of schizophrenia in 1983 at the age of 24.

◇Condensing 23 Years of Footage into 100 Minutes
Twenty-three years, 80 hours of footage. Why did he decide to condense this intimate and personal family history into 100 minutes and share it with the world? Director Fujino said, “A few years ago, there was an incident in Japan where a family starved a child with a developmental disability to death. ‘Things similar to what happened in my own home are happening elsewhere.’ I decided to make this film because I wanted people to know that such things are actually happening in reality,” she said.
The director urged his parents to seek treatment for his older sister, but his parents—who were doctors—refused to acknowledge that she had “schizophrenia.” It wasn’t until 2008 that his parents finally agreed to let their daughter receive psychiatric care. Director Fujino’s sister underwent three months of inpatient treatment, and for the first time in 25 years, they were able to have a conversation. His sister passed away in 2021, and Director Fujino completed the film in May 2023.
The decision to release the film was preceded by a long period of deliberation. He explained, “After the release was decided, I remained in a constant state of tension—waking up every night or biting my tongue until it bled,” adding, “It was a period of immense stress until I could finally show it to the public.”
Originally screened in just four theaters upon its December 2024 release in Japan, *What Should I Have Done?* expanded to over 100 theaters, posing a social question to the entire country. After topping the mini-theater box office for three consecutive weeks and sparking a long-running box office phenomenon, the film became a hot topic across Japan, including a record 55 consecutive sold-out screenings at the Foret Foret Higashinakano Theater.
Director Fujino stated, “When my sister was alive, I thought I could never show this footage to anyone because she herself was unaware that she had schizophrenia.” He explained that even after his sister’s death, he remained unmoved, but it was through meeting various people and discussing this story that he began to consider making the documentary.
He said, “For the first time, I realized that people’s perspectives and thoughts on this situation vary greatly. I didn’t want to blame my parents; I just wanted to tell the story of what happened in our family.”
Director Fujino had clear criteria in mind. “First, why did my parents refuse psychiatric treatment? Second, what impact did locking my sister’s room have?” he said.
There were also scenes that could not be included due to limited footage. Director Fujino said, “My father gave my sister new medications that came out after the 1990s. I documented this because I wondered if this might be a major problem or even a violation of the law.” He added, “It seems my parents were aware that my sister had schizophrenia, but they wouldn’t acknowledge it.”

◇The truth, unmasked by mosaic censorship… “Confinement alone won’t solve the problem”
Director Fujino captured his sister’s worsening symptoms and erratic behavior exactly as they were. “I think my sister would have told me not to show this to others,” he said. “That’s why I decided to film only certain scenes.” He continued, “I carefully considered the necessity of each shot—why this particular scene was needed—before including it.”
He also showed the faces of his family members, including his own, without alteration. Some raised concerns, questioning whether he had failed to protect them. Director Fujino explained, “If you use a mosaic, you can’t see their expressions. In fact, there’s a risk that they might be perceived as ‘monsters,’ which raises human rights concerns, but I chose not to use a mosaic.” He added, “If you can’t see them, it can lead to a lot of unnecessary speculation.”
The title, “What Should We Have Done?,” is a question that runs through the film’s beginning, process, conclusion, and meaning. Director Fujino said, “I believe the title is meant for the audience, so I posed a question. I felt this work would only have meaning if viewers were to raise doubts and ask questions while watching the film.”
He remarked, “Since I am neither a psychiatrist nor an expert, I feel very cautious about discussing this illness—and I believe I shouldn’t do so.” However, he added, “I hope viewers will understand that the story doesn’t end with the family simply locking him away. I hope they feel the hope and expectation that he will eventually recover.”
In respect of the director’s wishes, *What Should I Have Done?* will be released exclusively in theaters. After the theatrical run ends, it will not be available on any platforms, including Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), Video on Demand (VOD), or Over-the-Top (OTT) services. According to the importer and distributor, Etnine Film, the exact duration of the theatrical run has not been determined, but the goal is for a long-term run.