Need a buzzy film festival favorite to kick off the Fall theatrical season? Look no further than Neo Sora‘s “Happyend,” a narrative feature debut that had the 2024 Venice Film Festival crowds buzzing last year.
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Set in a near-future Japan on the brink of catastrophe, “Happyend” follows two best friends in high school as their nation’s uncertain future affects them in disparate ways.
Here’s an official synopsis for “Happyend,” courtesy of Film Movement:
In a near-future Tokyo where the threat of a catastrophic earthquake pervades daily life, two rabble-rousing best friends are about to graduate high school. One night, they pull a consequential prank on their Principal, which leads to a surveillance system being installed in their school. Stuck between the oppressive security system and a darkening national political situation, the two respond in contrasting ways, leading them to confront differences they never had to face before.
“Happyend” stars Hayato Kurihara, Yukito Hidaka, Yuta Hayashi, Shina Peng, ARAZI, Kilala Inori, PUSHIM, Ayumu Nakajima, and Makiko Watanabe.
Along with directing, Sora also pens the script for “Happyend.” Producers on the film include Albert Tholen, Aiko Masubuchi, Eric Nyari, Alex C. Lo, and Anthony Chen.
As noted earlier, “Happyend” had its world premiere at last year’s Venice Film Festival. Other 2024 festival screenings for the film included TIFF and NYFF, as well as the Busan International Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival, and the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. “Happyend” is Soto’s second feature film after 2023’s doc “Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus,” which also had its world premiere at Venice.
“Happyend” hits theaters on September 12. Watch a trailer for the film below.
