06.02.24, 20:30, The First Slam Dunk (2022)

This epic sports drama was a cultural phenomenon in Japan even before the film was released. Based on Takehiko Inoue's manga series of the same name, and written and directed by himself. The First Slam Dunk takes place during a basketball match between the underdog basketball team of Shohoku high school and the unbeatable basketball champions of Sannoh school. This match is frequently interrupted by flashbacks that give insight into the players' lives. For instance, the film focuses on Miyagi Ryota, the brooding point guard whose rugged appearance hides a deep grief over the death of his older brother, who he lost a few years earlier.

The First Slam Dunk embodies what it is like to play basketball or what it is like to be on the edge of your seat while watching a game. When a character catches a pass, takes a step back, holds the ball up and makes a three-pointer, the film slows down time, omits the sound and focuses on just the right detail — the perfect, crystal-clear swish of the ball going through the basket and gently hitting the net.