August in the Water (1995)

When two meteorites simultaneously land in the mountains near the town of Fukuoka, a strange set of cosmic events unfold amidst a deadly endemic brought on by drought, where the organs of townsfolk are petrified – causing them to drop dead at a moment's notice. Izumi, a teenage diving prodigy, transfers to a local high school, where she quickly earns the adoration of classmates and the infatuation of two boys, Mao and Ukiya.

 

What follows is a hallucinogenic and dreamlike exploration into the unseen universe that envelops us all in the guise of a coming-of-age film, weaving and connecting the various dots that make up our existence. With a score resembling the depths of Atlantis and metaphysical imagery to match, Gakuryū Ishii delivers a meditative and transcendental experience unlike no other.

 

As always, thank you for listening and we hope you enjoy the discussion.

 

Where to watch:

YouTube (Thanks to the small audience who keeps reuploading this film for free since it’s not readily available anywhere else)

Also available on the internet archive via the link below while it lasts:

https://archive.org/details/august.in.the.water.1995

 

Here’s to hoping this gem gets a restoration and new lease on life soon!

 

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