River directed by Junta Yamaguchi will close the Five Flavours Asian Film Festival which will take place in cinemas from November 15 -21 in Warsaw, Poland, and online from November 15 until December 3, 2023.

River by Junta Yamaguchi – Japan | 2023 – 86 minutes | Polish Premiere
By the traditional Fujia ryokan near Kyoto flows the river Kibune. The locals claim that its waters are inhabited by deities. One day, the inn staff experiences an unending collective déjà vu. The whole area surrounding Kibunegets stuck in a time loop, the past events are played out scene by scene, causing chaos someone needs to get under control. Even though for some the situation is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the ryokan staff is faced with some serious trouble – the time loop knows no day off, the comfort of the clients must be assured perpetually.

Junta Yamaguchi is a rising star of Japanese independent cinema. The young filmmaker specializes in small-budget productions, characterized by a simple idea and the unique precision of the plot (remember “One Cut Of The Dead” shown at the 13th Five Flavours?). Yamaguchi impresses with the narrative pace and the production panache, closing most of the daringly enacted scenes in long master shots. “River” guarantees a refined film play and a heavy load of warmth. In the end, who wouldn’t want to stop the passage of time in the beautiful scenery of Kibune? – Łukasz Mańkowski

Trailer:

About the director:
Born in 1987 in Osaka. Director and screenwriter, author of many short films, commercials, and documentaries. His first success was a low-budget film “Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes,” in which he used a simple concept to introduce a new quality to independent entertainment cinema. He gained recognition in the international festival circuit. “River” is his second film, also made on a budget, in fairly modest conditions.

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