Sake-Bomb

Sake-Bomb is a 2013 film directed by Junya Sakino, written by Jeff Mizushima, and starring Gaku Hamada and Eugene Kim as cousins who embark on a road trip in California. It is a shared Japanese and American production. It premiered at the 2013 SXSW film festival.

Sake-Bomb
Film poster
Directed byJunya Sakino
Written byJeff Mizushima
Produced by
  • Junya Sakino
  • Hiromitsu Senoo
Starring
CinematographySam Yano
Edited byJeff Mizushima
Music byDaichi Yoshida
Production
companies
  • Pictures Dept.
  • Buffalo 8 Productions
  • DiVerse Pictures
Release date
  • March 8, 2013 (2013-03-08) (SXSW)[1]
Running time
82 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • Japan
LanguageEnglish

Plot

After his girlfriend dumps him, Sebastian, a cynical and bitter Asian-American vlogger, meets his cousin Naoto, a Japanese tourist. Naoto has come to America to follow his ex-girlfriend, who left him without any explanation. Seeking answers for their respective relationship issues, the two embark on a road trip that results in culture clash between the two cousins and wider American culture.

Cast

Production

Besides a comedy enjoyable without thinking about heavy themes, director Sakino wanted to offer audiences subject matter with which broad audiences could identify if they looked closer. Aspects of the film were based on real experiences that Sakino and writer Mizushima faced as Asians in America.[2] The crew was multicultural, and this caused real-life culture clashes.[3]

Release

Sake-Bomb premiered at the 2013 South by Southwest film festival.[1] It was distributed in the UK by Third Window Films[4] and in the US by First Pond.[5]

Reception

Kaori Shoji of The Japan Times rated it 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "It has its good points, but on the other hand, Sake Bomb seems to pander a bit much to the insecurities and sense of inadequacy that are a big part of life for Japanese living in America."[6] Inkoo Kang of the Los Angeles Times called it "a thoughtful and moving road-trip dramedy" that is hurt by Mizushima's editing.[7] Jamie S. Rich of The Oregonian wrote, "Sake-Bomb is a road-tripping culture-clash comedy with something to say, even though it's not always good at saying it."[8] James Mudge of Beyond Hollywood described it as "a very enjoyable mix of serious and intriguing themes with a commercially friendly road-buddy comedy in the traditional Hollywood style."[9]

The film won Best Narrative Feature at the 2013 San Diego Asian Film Festival.[10] Mizushima won Outstanding Screenplay at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.[11]

References
  1. Aldrich, Ryan (2013-02-25). "SXSW 2013 Exclusive: Trailer Debut for SAKE-BOMB". Twitch Film. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  2. Mudge, James (2013-10-14). "Interview: Sake-Bomb Director Junya Sakino". BeyondHollywood.com. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  3. "Meet the 2013 SXSW Filmmakers #15: Junya Sakino Explores Social Issues Through Comedy in 'Sake Bomb'". Indiewire. 2013-03-01. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  4. Blair, Gavin J. (2013-05-21). "Cannes: U.K. to Get 'Sake-Bombed'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  5. Schilling, Mark (2013-07-12). "'Sake-Bomb' to blast US". Variety. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  6. Shoji, Kaori (2014-05-22). "'Sake Bomb'". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  7. Kang, Inkoo (2013-10-31). "Review: A one-man revolution rises up in 'Sake Bomb'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  8. Rich, Jamie S. (2014-01-20). "'Sake-Bomb' is a racial culture-clash comedy riddled with stereotypes: Indie & art house films". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  9. Mudge, James (2013-10-03). "Raindance Film Festival '13 Review: Sake-Bomb (2013)". BeyondHollywood.com. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  10. "SDAFF Award Winners | Pacific Arts Movement". pacarts.org. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  11. Kilday, Gregg (2013-05-09). "Lee Isaac Chung Takes Two Top Prizes at Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
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