August in the Water + Introduction

The city of Fukuoka is plagued by misfortune; a severe drought, a mysterious illness turning citizens into stone, and meteorites plummeting down onto its mountains. Also in Fukuoka is Izumi; a high school transfer whose status as a championed diver captivates classmates. During a diving competition, Izumi suffers a near-fatal accident that awakens mystical powers within her. She reaches an attunement with nature, rendering her able to communicate telepathically with dolphins and organisms alike. What ensues is teenage angst and apathy, veiled in an ethereal yearning to connect with the world we inhabit.

Screened less than a handful of times in the UK, August in the Water has gained internet-cult status as a hard-to-reach film that must be seen. Absent from streaming platforms and rarely available on DVD, its metaphysical themes, moody atmosphere, and otherworldly synth score linger in the minds of those who watch it – making it a film still frequently spoken about today, 30 years after its release.

This screening will be introduced by season curator Aisha Rattan.

August in the Water, dir. Gakuryu Ishii, Japan 1995, Japanese with English subtitles, 117 min.