Via Okinawa

During the Vietnam War era, the influx of American soldiers to Okinawa boosted the local economy and introduced many bars and nightclubs. With exhausting displays of energy, Sai presents a whirlwind romance between a local rocker and the daughter of a mixed American-Okinawan marriage.

Directed by Yōichi Sai, Via Okinawa leans on a strong ensemble — Anna Nakagawa, Ryo Ishibashi, Léona Hirota — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1989.