Kogonada's Latest Film "Zi" Strikes a Delicate Balance

The director's new independent feature explores themes of memory and fragility through an artful visual style.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 3:47pm

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Kogonada's latest film "Zi" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, marking a departure from the director's previous more austere independent works. The wisp of a story follows a concert violinist named Zi (Michelle Mao) wandering the streets of Hong Kong, experiencing visions and flashes that may be from her past or future. Joined by two other characters, Elle (Haley Lu Richardson) and Min (Jin Ha), the film eschews traditional narrative development in favor of an immersive, textural exploration of the city. Shot partly on 16mm film, often at night, the heavy grain of the images evokes a sense of memory and impermanence, mirroring the protagonist's own feelings of being "untethered" and "detached" from the world. While the film's lack of conventional storytelling may frustrate some, the director's artful eye and dedication to the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto's music create a rapturous, disarming cinematic experience.

Why it matters

Zi marks a shift in style for director Kogonada, known for his previous independent features that favored subdued emotions and subtle compositions. The film's experimental approach to narrative and visual storytelling represents the director's effort to unleash his formalist energy and create a more impressionistic, sensory-driven work. In an era of blockbuster spectacle, Zi stands out as an example of independent cinema that prioritizes mood, texture, and the exploration of universal themes over traditional plot development.

The details

Zi follows the wanderings of concert violinist Zi (Michelle Mao) through the streets of Hong Kong. Suffering from a neurological condition that causes her to experience visions of herself and flashes of uncertain origin, Zi encounters two other characters - Elle (Haley Lu Richardson), an American tourist with a bad wig, and Min (Jin Ha), a man somehow connected to both women. The film eschews conventional narrative development, instead focusing on the sensory experience of the city through Kogonada's camera. Shot partially on 16mm film, often at night, the heavy grain of the images evokes a sense of memory and impermanence. The director's use of music by the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto further contributes to the film's delicate, elegiac tone.

  • Zi premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in January.

The players

Kogonada

A Korean-American director known for his independent-minded, austere films that emphasize subdued emotions and subtle compositions. Zi marks a departure from his previous style.

Michelle Mao

The actress who portrays the lead character Zi, a concert violinist experiencing visions and flashes in Hong Kong.

Haley Lu Richardson

An actress who had her breakout performance in Kogonada's 2017 debut feature Columbus, and now stars as the character Elle in Zi.

Jin Ha

The actor who plays the character Min, who is somehow connected to both Zi and Elle.

Ryuichi Sakamoto

The late Japanese composer whose music is featured prominently in Zi, to whom the film is dedicated.

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What they’re saying

“I've always felt untethered, detached, like I've been floating in this world.”

— Zi (Vulture)

The takeaway

Zi represents a bold artistic statement from director Kogonada, eschewing conventional narrative in favor of an immersive, textural exploration of memory, fragility, and the human experience. While the film's lack of traditional storytelling may frustrate some viewers, its rapturous visuals and dedication to the late Ryuichi Sakamoto's music create a disarming cinematic experience that lingers in the mind long after viewing.