Akira (1988)

In July 1988, following the deployment of a new type of weapon of mass destruction in Japan’s Kanto region, the Third World War broke out. 31 years later – 2019. Amid preparations for next year’s Olympic Games, occasional glimpses can be caught of the glory days of Neo-Tokyo, the megalopolis built on Tokyo Bay. Kaneda, the leader of a bōsōzoku motorbike gang, leaves a trail of destruction in his wake as he rides through the desolate streets of Neo-Tokyo. One evening, Tetsuo, one of the gang members, bumps into a peculiar test subject from a government experiment. Stunned, Kaneda and the gang watch as Tetsuo and the mysterious boy are taken away to a military laboratory. To rescue Tetsuo, Kaneda attempts to break into the military facility, where he discovers that Tetsuo has developed supernatural powers. Meanwhile, one of the test subjects in the special nursery predicts the awakening of the top-secret AKIRA. Tetsuo tests his new powers on his journey through the underworld where AKIRA slumbers. Rediscover this cult classic at the cinema, in a stunning 4K restoration. Translated with DeepL.com (free version) (1988 · Katsuhiro Otomo · 124 min) Screening at De Uitkijk.