TWO SEASONS, TWO STRANGERS
Inspired by Yoshiharu Tsuge’s manga A View of the Seaside (1967) and Mr. Ben and His Igloo (1968), the film moves between two stories: one set in an eerily cool summer by the sea, the other in the warmth of a remote winter inn. 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 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. Sea and snow frame this quiet meditation on solitude, displacement, and fleeting human connection, yielding a work of rare delicacy that addresses loneliness while offering moments of grace and belonging.
The latest masterpiece by one of Japan finest filmmakers won the Golden Lion, top prize at the Locarno International Film Festival and the Kinema Jumpo Awards for Best Film and Best Actress.
©2025 Two Seasons, Two Strangers Production Committee
Trailer
Screening Sponsor
Dinner with your movie?
Bento boxes will be available from a local Japanese restaurant (TBC). Bento sales online for this movie will close June 12th at noon. Bento can still be purchased in person on the day of screening, supply will be limited.
Online Bento: $13 + TicketWeb fees + HST
In-person Bento: $15 + HST
Dietary options:
- Regular (meat)
- Vegetarian