Asako I & II

Ryusuke Hamaguchi's film, which uses the same face twice. Asako meets a man called Baku in Osaka and attaches herself to him. One day he disappears without a word. Years later, working in Tokyo, she meets Ryohei: a man who looks exactly like Baku. But his character is entirely different; calm, responsible, reliable. They begin living together. Then Baku comes back. The question is whether Asako loves Ryohei for himself or for the person he replaced. The film does not answer, and Asako does not know the reason for her own decision either. Masahiro Higashide plays both parts and the difference is carried entirely by posture and look; no makeup or effects are used. The earthquake of 2011 sits in the middle of the narrative and that section directly affects the characters' relationship. The source is Tomoka Shibasaki's novel. It competed at Cannes in 2018. An interesting work for anyone who likes Japanese cinema and quiet narratives built on relationships. For a viewer who wants to connect with the lead, Asako's decisions are not explained and the film does not defend her.