After graduating from university, he entered the Japan Academy of Moving Images, the film school of Imamura Shohei. He made his feature film debut with his graduation film, Chong (2000), which won the Grand Prize at Pia Film Festival. He has been successfully building his career, and in 2006 his fifth feature film Hula Girls became a social-phenomenon hit and won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. Now Lee is one of Japan’s leading filmmakers and his profound insight into human nature stands out in his recent works including Villain (2010), Unforgiven (2013), and Rage (2016).

Filmography

Wandering (2022, D'A 2023), Rage (2016), Unforgiven (2013), Villain (2010), Hula Girls (2006), 69 Sixty-nine (2004), Border Line (2002), Chong (2000)