Asako I & II

“A film on the earthly magic of falling in love, Ryūsuke Hamaguchi’s Asako I & II is the brilliant screen adaptation of Tomoka Shibasaki’s bestselling novel, Netemo Sametemo. When Asako (Erika Karata), a shy student from Osaka, meets Baku (Masahiro Higashide) at a photo exhibition, it’s love at first sight. Baku is a mysterious and gorgeous-looking young man, but he likes to disappear when the mood strikes him. Then, one day, he’s gone for good. Two years later, Asako, now working as a server in a Tokyo coffee shop, spots Ryohei (also Higashide), a young sake executive who looks exactly like Baku—to the extent that Asako is convinced she’s found her lost lover. But Ryohei is a very different person: he has no secrets, he is honest and kind-hearted, and he will love Asako with a faithful, protective love, destined to last forever—the kind of love that’s so reassuring it might even be scary.” (Toronto International Film Festival) “The provocation is apt to haunt you for some time after the lights go up.” (NY Times) “At heart, this is a film about looking for the past in the present, and about how hard it can be to shake that impulse.” (AV Club)

website: grasshopperfilm.com/film/asako