Opens June 14 | In this lesser-seen, gentle masterwork from director Nobuhiko Ôbayashi (HOUSE), Shunzo runs a popular grocery store on the outskirts of Tokyo. When the struggling Chinese exchange student Lee visits the shop, but cannot afford to purchase anything, Shunzo is empathetic and a relationship between the two begins. A subtle and delicate chronicle of the end of an era marked by the Japanese economic bubble bursting, BEIJING WATERMELON is Ôbayashi at his most modern, while his experimental flourishes invite viewers to fill in the blanks of history. Restoration commissioned by Shochiku from a 4K scan of the 35mm negatives, scanned at IMAGICA Lab Inc. in 2021 on a Lasergraphics Scanstation. Film Center exclusive. 

The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu