SXSW Film Reviews: 'Sake-Bomb'

Sake-Bomb

In his first feature film, Sakino takes us on a funny, finely executed road trip of love, loss, and culture clashes: Unemployed video blogger Sebastian (Kim) is a cynical Asian-American who knows more about Asian stereotypes than he does his own culture. His life takes a turn when his naive cousin Naoto (Hamada), a professional sakemaker, arrives from Japan in search of his long-lost girlfriend. Ordered by his father to help Naoto find his ex, Sebastian – resentful of his role as chauffeur and chaperone – gradually takes on a softer edge as the two bond over some hard lessons about women. Along the way, Naoto gets his first jolting taste of a sake-bomb – made by dropping a shot of sake into a glass of beer. The cocktail is an illustrative blend of two worlds in one Nissan, making for a road trip movie that is no ordinary journey.