Asako I & II

Part of the Hanabi Film Festival, running select days Aug. 18 – 31. Limited festival passes available for access to all films.

A mysterious and intoxicating pop romance, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s follow-up to the acclaimed Happy Hour begins with Asako, a young woman who meets and falls madly in love with a drifter, Baku, who one day drifts right out of her life. Two years later, working in Tokyo, Asako sees Baku again — or, rather, a young, solid businessman named Ryohei who bears a striking resemblance to her old flame. They begin to build a happy life together until traces of Asako’s past start to resurface.

Released before his international breakthrough, the Academy Award-nominated Drive My Car, Hamaguchi’s adaptation is based on the novel Netemo Sametemo by Tomoka Shibasaki and first debuted in Oregon at the 2019 Portland International Film Festival. We’re excited to bring back this rarely-screen work from one of Japan’s most celebrated modern directors.

Screened in Japanese with English subtitles.