Beijing Watermelon (1989) [北京的西瓜, Pekin no Suika] - Episode 94

Ben and Chris come back around to Japanese cinema with a review of Nobuhiko Obayashi's 1989 film, Beijing Watermelon. While made considering Japan's and China's complicated history and produced coincidentally with the events of Tiananmen Square in 1989, Obayashi bends the rules of cinema once again to make a beautiful and non-political film about community, personal responsibility, and balance. With apparent influence from the likes of both Capra and Ozu, The Searchers discuss the vital nature of the in-between moments and the meaning of "home," a word that may describe Obayashi's oeuvre to a T. Vinegar Syndrome's partner label Kani released Beijing Watermelon in 2024, and it can be found on Blu-ray HERE.  If you like what you heard, please rate us a 5/5 on Apple, Spotify, or Podbean, and review us on Apple. Submit your mailbags to us at [email protected]. We'll read both on air. Follow us on Letterboxd.com if you'd like to see what we've recently watched and/or reviewed. Ben, Chris, & Kevin Our episode catalogue: https://searchersfilmpodcast.podbean.com/