A leader of Japanese cinema's 1990s New Wave, Hitoshi Yazaki dropped off the radar for more than a decade, returning in 2006 with "Strawberry Shortcakes," a widely praised drama about four lonely women in search of, not just a partner, but reasons for living. In his new film, "Sweet Little Lies," the heroine has found her partner — but is still looking for fulfillment.

In person, Yazaki is soft-spoken and polite, but also quick to smile and laugh, as though he still found the PR process fun — or at least privately amusing.

Did you have Miki Nakatani in mind when you wrote the role for Ruriko?