As a gamer who’s lived through numerous virtual dystopias and high school dramas in my countless hours of gaming, I can’t wait to experience the reality of Neo Sora’s ‘Happyend’. The blend of personal experiences, political undertones, and a dash of futuristic Tokyo seems like a perfect recipe for an engaging tale.
Metrograph Pictures has acquired North American distribution rights for Japanese director Neo Sora’s debut fictional film, titled Happyend. This high school delinquent drama carries undertones of political dystopia and has garnered praise from critics at the Venice Film Festival. It was premiered in the festival’s Horizons section earlier this week
After its premiere in Venice, the movie “Happyend” is set to appear at the Toronto International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, and New York Film Festival. The publication Monograph plans to showcase the film in U.S. cinemas sometime next year. Elsewhere, the film will be represented by sales company Magnify
Sora debuted his initial fictional work this time around, titled “Happyend,” yet he was previously in Venice for the documentary, “Opus,” showcasing the last performance of the late Japanese musical icon, Ryuichi Sakamoto, father to him
This week, The Hollywood Reporter’s lead critic, David Rooney, evaluated the film “Happyend”. He commented that Sora masterfully strikes a delicate balance in its tone, blending the bittersweet and melancholic elements typical of an end-of-school drama with a gentle yet lingering exploration of universal fears we all face
In a future Tokyo that isn’t far off, the story Happyend unfolds around two close friends who are on the verge of graduating from high school, yet face the looming danger of a devastating earthquake. Following their mischievous prank on their principal, which results in advanced surveillance technology being installed in their school, they experience growing tension in their friendship due to their differing perspectives on how to react to the rising political climate in Japan, which is becoming increasingly repressive
In a declaration, Sora expressed: “I created this movie envisioning what a close-by future could be like, while drawing comparisons between Japan’s history of earthquakes revealing societal conflicts. A significant portion of this movie is rooted in my personal upbringing in New York, and the friendships that have played a pivotal role in my life. I am eager to observe how the film will resonate with audiences in the United States.”
David Laub, head of Metrograph Pictures, remarked: “Neo Sora’s voice in cinema is truly captivating, and Happyend is a daring, distinctive, and profoundly relatable movie. Although it’s set in the future, it mirrors our current lives. Neo has skillfully created a poignant and frequently humorous tale of friendship and maturity within an exceptionally innovative and thought-provoking setting. We are overjoyed to collaborate with Neo and bring this exceptional film to the public.”
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2024-09-04 22:25