Happyend Explained

Happyend
Director:Neo Sora
Music:Lia Ouyang Rusli
Cinematography:Bill Kirstein
Editing:Albert Tholen
Runtime:113 minutes
Language:Japanese

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

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.[1]

Cast

Production

In August 2020, it was announced Neo Sora would direct the film then titled Earthquake from a screenplay he wrote.[2] The film was selected for the 2022 Sundance Institute Screenwriting and Directing labs.[3]

Release

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

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.[11] And take part in the 'First Feature Competition' of the 2024 BFI London Film Festival.[12] The film will make its South Asia premiere at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 in the World Cinema section.[13]

Reception

Accolades

AwardYear CategoryRecipient(s)Result
Asia Pacific Screen Awards2024Best FilmHappyend[14]
Best ScreenplayNeo Sora
Young Cinema Award[15]
BFI London Film Festival2024Sutherland Trophy[16]
Pingyao International Film Festival2024Roberto Rossellini Jury Award[17]
Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival2024NETPAC AwardHappyend[18]
Observation Missions for Asian Cinema Award[19]
Venice Film Festival2024OrizzontiNeo Sora[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Magnify Boards Neo Sora's Venice-Bound Japanese Dystopian Film 'Happyend' (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. Elsa. Keslassy. July 23, 2024. August 6, 2024.
  2. Web site: Locarno Competition Filmmaker Neo Sora Prepares Debut Feature 'Earthquake' (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. Jamie. Lang. August 5, 2020. August 6, 2024.
  3. Web site: Sundance Institute Announces 2022 Fellows for Directors, Screenwriters and Native Labs. Sundance Institute. May 9, 2022. August 6, 2024.
  4. Web site: Venice Film Festival Lineup: 'Joker: Folie à Deux', Almodovar, Guadagnino, Kurzel, Larrain & More In Competition – Full List. Deadline Hollywood. Nancy. Tartaglione. July 23, 2024. August 6, 2024.
  5. Web site: Metrograph Pictures Buys Venice Festival Highlight 'Happyend' for North America Ahead of Toronto Premiere (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. Elsa. Keslassy. September 3, 2024. September 3, 2024.
  6. Web site: 'Presence,' Cannes Favorites 'Seed of the Sacred Fig' and 'To a Land Unknown' Join TIFF Centrepiece Lineup. IndieWire. Ryan. Lattanzio. August 6, 2024. August 6, 2024.
  7. Web site: Happyend. Toronto International Film Festival. August 10, 2024.
  8. Web site: Happyend. New York Film Festival. August 10, 2024.
  9. Web site: 62nd New York Film Festival Main Slate Announced. New York Film Festival. August 6, 2024. August 10, 2024.
  10. Web site: Happyend. Bitters End. August 13, 2024.
  11. Web site: The 29th BIFF announces Special Program in Focus 'Teen Spirit, Teen Movie'. Busan International Film Festival. August 19, 2024. September 1, 2024. en.
  12. Web site: London Film Fest Unveils Full Program, Including Doc and First Feature Competition Lineups, Series. The Hollywood Reporter. Georg. Szalai. 4 September 2024 .
  13. Web site: Deb . Deepshikha . 2024-09-30 . MAMI Mumbai Film Festival Unveils 2024 Official Lineup . 2024-10-13 . High On Films . en-US.
  14. Web site: 2024-10-16 . 17th ASIA PACIFIC SCREEN AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED . 2024-10-17 . . en.
  15. Web site: 13 November 2024 . WINNERS OF YOUNG CINEMA, BEST NEW PERFORMER & CULTURAL DIVERSITY AWARDS . 2024-12-02 . . en.
  16. Web site: Williams . Tom . 2024-09-27 . LFF announces 2024 competition juries . 2024-10-17 . British Cinematographer Magazine . en-GB.
  17. Web site: Shackleton . Liz . 2024-09-30 . ‘Karst’, ‘The Sparrow In The Chimney’ Win Top Awards At Pingyao International Film Festival . 2024-10-17 . . en-US.
  18. Web site: 2024-10-30 . 2024 NETPAC Award . 2024-10-30 . Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival . en.
  19. Web site: 2024-11-20 . Montages of a Modern Motherhood Wins NETPAC Award . 2024-11-21 . Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival . en.
  20. Web site: Happyend . . 11 July 2024 . August 6, 2024.

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