Cinecity 2026: All Of A Sudden
12A 196 mins
12A 196 mins
DIR: RYUSUKE HAMAGUCHI. WITH: VIRGINIE EFIRA, TAO OKAMOTO, KYOZO NAGATSUKA. FRANCE, JAPAN, GERMANY, BELGIUM 2026. 196 MINS. FRENCH, JAPANESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES.
Award-winning Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi makes his French-language debut with a compassionate study of ageing, mortality and friendship.
Marie-Lou, the director of a French nursing home, introduces a new humanitarian care system at the establishment despite opposition from colleagues and investors. A chance encounter between Marie-Lou and a theatre director, Mari, leads to an intense friendship between the two women, with significant consequences. At the heart of the film is the memorable connection between the characters played by Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto, whose performances earned them a shared Best Actress award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Hamaguchi’s previous films include Evil Does Not Exist and the Oscar-winning Drive My Car. His return to the screen is a subtle and absorbing exploration of humanity.
‘The Japanese director’s gorgeous new feature is the rarest type of film, not merely good enough to remind you what cinema can be but great enough to remind you what life can be.’ Jessica Kiang, Variety