The epic drama by Oscar-winning Japanese director Ryosuke Hamaguchi suddenlyone of the most enthusiastically received titles at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, has locked in its release date for awards season: Neon will open the film exclusively in North American theaters on November 25, the day before Thanksgiving.
The film premiered in competition at Cannes in May, where its two leads, Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto, shared the Best Actress award – Okamoto becoming the first Japanese actress ever to win the award. suddenly It also ranked at the top of many critics’ best films lists at Cannes this year. Hollywood ReporterLeading film critic David Rooney summarized the film at the festival as “a work of profound impact on humanity.”
Unfolding over three hours and 16 minutes, this Japanese and French-language feature is set across France and Japan, and is a very serious but very powerful exploration of life, death, and the failings of capitalism. Evira plays Mary Lou, the director of a nursing facility who struggles to establish a philosophy of care built on listening and respecting the dignity of her residents, despite resistance from her staff. But her worldview is subtly changed by her meeting with Mari (Okamoto), a Japanese theater director battling cancer, and by the deep friendship that grows between the two women. The cast also includes Kyozo Nagatsuka and Kodai Kurosaki.
Hamaguchi co-wrote the screenplay with Léa Le Dimna, and it was loosely adapted When life suddenly takes a turnthe famous Japanese collection of non-fiction letters exchanged between the cancer-stricken philosopher, Makiko Miyano, and the medical anthropologist, Maho Isono. The film is a joint production between four countries: the French company Cinefrance Studios, the Japanese company Office Shirous and Bitters End, the German company Heimatfilm, and the Belgian company Tarantula. It opened in Japanese cinemas in June.
Neon date november 25 suddenly Even for an ambitious awards campaign. Hamaguchi Driving my car It opened in US theaters on Thanksgiving Eve in 2021 and went on to win the Academy Award for Best International Feature. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Many of the acclaimed director’s other works were festival favorites Wheel of fortune and imagination Obtaining the Silver Bear at the Berlinale in 2021 and Evil does not exist Obtained the Silver Lion in Venice in 2023.
Neon has lined up another list full of awards season contenders. The distributor has expanded its line of Palme d’Or trucks by taking over Christian Mungiu Fjord. The fall lineup also includes director Na Hong-jin’s brutal Cannes epic He hopeshitting theaters September 9, and James Gray paper tiger In November, among others.
