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Happyend

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Happyend
Directed byNeo Sora
Written byNeo Sora
Produced by
  • Albert Tholen
  • Aiko Masubuchi
  • Eric Nyari
  • Anthony Chen
  • Alex C. Lo
Starring
CinematographyBill Kirstein
Edited byAlbert Tholen
Music byLia Ouyang Rusli
Production
companies
  • Zakkubalan
  • Cineric Creative
  • Cinema Inutile
  • Giraffe Pictures
  • Spark Features
  • Sons of Rigor
Distributed by
Release dates
  • September 2, 2024 (2024-09-02) (Venice)
  • October 4, 2024 (2024-10-04) (Japan)
Running time
113 minutes[1]
Countries
  • United States
  • Japan
LanguageJapanese

Happyend is a 2024 Japanese-American drama film, written and directed by Neo Sora. It stars Kurihara Hayato, Hidaka Yukito, Ayumu Nakajima, Makiko Watanabe and Shirō Sano.

It had its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2024, in the Orizzonti section, and was released in Japan on October 4, 2024, by Bitters End.

Premise

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Set in near-future Tokyo, two best friends are about to graduate high school, while threats of an earthquake looms. One night, they pull a prank on their principal, leading to a surveillance system being installed. They respond in contrasting ways.[2]

Cast

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  • Hayato Kurihara as Yuta
  • Yukito Hidaka as Kou
  • Yuta Hayashi as Ata-chan
  • Shina Peng as Ming
  • Arazi as Tomu
  • Kilala Inori as Fumi
  • Pushim as Fukuko
  • Ayumu Nakajima as Okada
  • Makiko Watanabe as Yuko
  • Shirō Sano as Principal Nagai
  • Masaru Yahagi as Taira

Production

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In August 2020, it was announced Neo Sora would direct the film then titled Earthquake from a screenplay he wrote.[3] The film was selected for the 2022 Sundance Institute Screenwriting and Directing labs.[4]

Release

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It had its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2024, in the Orizzonti section.[5] Prior to, Metrograph Pictures acquired US distribution rights to the film.[6] It will also screen at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2024.[7][8] and the 2024 New York Film Festival.[9][10] It is scheduled to be released in Japan on October 4, 2024, by Bitters End.[11]

It was also invited at the 29th Busan International Film Festival in 'Special program in focus' Teenage Minds, Teenage Movies section and it will be screened there in October 2024.[12] And take part in the 'First Feature Competition' of the 2024 BFI London Film Festival.[13] The film will make its South Asia premiere at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 in the World Cinema section.[14]

Reception

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Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 13 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.7/10. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 66 out of 100, based on 5 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.

Accolades

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Award Year Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2024 Best Film Happyend Pending [15]
Best Screenplay Neo Sora Pending
BFI London Film Festival 2024 Sutherland Trophy Nominated [16]
Pingyao International Film Festival 2024 Roberto Rossellini Jury Award Won [17]
Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival 2024 NETPAC Award Happyend Pending [18]
Venice Film Festival 2024 Orizzonti Neo Sora Nominated [1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Happyend". 81st Venice International Film Festival. 11 July 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  2. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (July 23, 2024). "Magnify Boards Neo Sora's Venice-Bound Japanese Dystopian Film 'Happyend' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  3. ^ Lang, Jamie (August 5, 2020). "Locarno Competition Filmmaker Neo Sora Prepares Debut Feature 'Earthquake' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  4. ^ "Sundance Institute Announces 2022 Fellows for Directors, Screenwriters and Native Labs". Sundance Institute. May 9, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  5. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (July 23, 2024). "Venice Film Festival Lineup: 'Joker: Folie à Deux', Almodovar, Guadagnino, Kurzel, Larrain & More In Competition – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  6. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (September 3, 2024). "Metrograph Pictures Buys Venice Festival Highlight 'Happyend' for North America Ahead of Toronto Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  7. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (August 6, 2024). "'Presence,' Cannes Favorites 'Seed of the Sacred Fig' and 'To a Land Unknown' Join TIFF Centrepiece Lineup". IndieWire. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  8. ^ "Happyend". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "Happyend". New York Film Festival. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  10. ^ "62nd New York Film Festival Main Slate Announced". New York Film Festival. August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  11. ^ "Happyend". Bitters End. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  12. ^ "The 29th BIFF announces Special Program in Focus 'Teen Spirit, Teen Movie'". Busan International Film Festival. August 19, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  13. ^ Szalai, Georg (4 September 2024). "London Film Fest Unveils Full Program, Including Doc and First Feature Competition Lineups, Series". The Hollywood Reporter.
  14. ^ Deb, Deepshikha (2024-09-30). "MAMI Mumbai Film Festival Unveils 2024 Official Lineup". High On Films. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  15. ^ "17th ASIA PACIFIC SCREEN AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED". Asia Pacific Screen Awards. 2024-10-16. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  16. ^ Williams, Tom (2024-09-27). "LFF announces 2024 competition juries". British Cinematographer Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  17. ^ Shackleton, Liz (2024-09-30). "'Karst', 'The Sparrow In The Chimney' Win Top Awards At Pingyao International Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  18. ^ "2024金馬影展公布威尼斯影展精挑強片 11部奈派克獎入選影片盡顯亞洲新銳活力". Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2024-10-15. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
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