The film begins when café owner Kato (Kazunari Tosa) discovers his computer's monitor shows what will happen two minutes into the future from the perspective of the television in the café, which displays what happened two minutes into the past.[1] The computer is brought down to face the television, creating a Droste effect, allowing the characters to see several minutes into the future.
The film was shot over the course of seven days in a Kyoto café by members of the Europe Kikaku theater troupe. The film, which is edited to appear as if it was shot in one long shot, is an example of nagamawashi,[2] a microgenre of mostly-low-budget one-shot Japanese films that have gained popularity after the success of One Cut of the Dead in 2017.
Release and reception
The film premiered at Tollywood, a small Tokyo cinema, to an audience of twelve. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic severely limiting production and release of mainstream films, the film was selected to be screened by major theater chain Toho Cinemas.
The film was praised for its playful energy and industrious low-budget spirit. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 99% of 69 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "A time-travel comedy shot through with infectious energy, Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes offers sci-fi fans a low-key -- and highly entertaining -- treat."[3]
