In Hong Kong, a young violinist named Zi struggles with her memory while visions of her future self haunt her. She meets a stranger named Elle, whom she recognises from those visions, and together they walk the city’s streets through a day and a night.
zi is the new film from Kogonada, the director of After Yang and Columbus, and it opens in limited US cinemas this Friday.
It drifts like a dream, and like a dream it slips away.
Movie at a Glance
- US release: Limited release from Friday 6 November 2026 (Grasshopper Film)
- UK release: No UK release date confirmed at the time of writing
- Writer and director: Kogonada
- Starring: Michelle Mao, Haley Lu Richardson and Jin Ha
- Runtime: 99 minutes
- Genre: Drama, science fiction
Viewer Match
- Best for: Kogonada fans and lovers of slow, meditative cinema.
- Maybe skip if: You need a clear plot.
- Mood and pace: Dreamlike, gentle and elusive.
- Cinema or streaming? Cinema for the images, or streaming later.
- Spoiler level: Spoiler-free.
A City at Night
Hong Kong looks gorgeous, and Kogonada’s eye for composition is as precise as ever. Michelle Mao is a striking lead, and Haley Lu Richardson, reuniting with the director, is warm and open.
We first looked at it in our zi trailer post.
Beguiling but Remote
The meditation on memory, time and connection is beautiful, but critics have been divided on whether it adds up. Some find it profound, others too elusive to hold onto.
It is Kogonada at his most abstract.
Where It Fits
For another gentle science-fiction drama, read our Klara and the Sun Super Review. This week’s other films are in this week’s Weekly Cinema Pack, and tonight’s picks are in What to Watch Tonight.
Spoiler-Free Verdict
zi is a gorgeous, beguiling meditation on memory and time, but it is so elusive that it can feel remote.
- Performances: 7/10
- Direction: 7.5/10
- Screenplay: 6/10
- Score: 7/10
- Cinematography: 8.5/10
- Entertainment Value: 5.5/10
- Overall score: 6.5/10
Star rating: 3/5
Verdict badge: Best watched in the Cinema
One-line verdict: Beautiful and dreamlike, but hard to hold onto.
Watch the Official Trailer
Watch the official trailer from Grasshopper Film.
Is After Yang your favourite Kogonada film? Tell us.