Two Seasons Two Strangers

Synopsis

In summer, Nagisa, a woman from the city, and Natsuo, a young man visiting his relatives, meet by the sea. Their vacant gazes reflect each other as they exchange awkward words and wade into the rain-drenched ocean. In winter, Li, a screenwriter in a creative slump, travels to a snow-covered village with an old camera left behind by a late acquaintance. There, she finds a peculiar, desolate guesthouse run by the enigmatic Benzo. Their conversations rarely connect, yet they set off on an unexpected adventure.

The works of Yoshiharu Tsuge, blending melancholy with quiet resilience, have earned worldwide acclaim and continue to resonate across generations. Sho Miyake—one of the leading voices in contemporary Japanese cinema—brings Tsuge’s world to the screen with a delicate balance of fable-like storytelling and modern sensibilities. Through striking landscapes, fleeting encounters, inexplicable moments of oddity, and a cast of endearing characters, the film humorously captures the primal joys of journey and the quiet absurdity of being human.

Screening followed by interaction with the editor of the film, Keiko Okawa. In conversation with Raman Chawla, film curator.