Set in 19th century Japan following the opening of the country after an extended period of isolation, Felice…Felice… is loosely based on the life of the Italian photographer Felicé Beato, who was one of the first westerners to document the new era.

The film tells the tragic love story of Felice, who has returned to Japan after a six-year absence. He is searching for his former lover, Okiku, a geisha he initially bought then fell in love with. Feeling rejected by his lover, Felice returned to his homeland but after a period of reflection he realized that she loved him too but showed it in a different way. His search for her takes him through Nagasaki, Fuji, Yokohama and Tokyo as he meets former friends and discovers Okiku’s fate.

Although set in Japan and filmed mostly in Japanese Peter Delpuet’s film was shot largely in a studio in Amsterdam. Felice…Felice won awards at home and internationally and is noted for its use of Beato’s real photographs.