Ryusuke Hamaguchi has shot a film in France, titled “All of the Sudden,” which will feature female lead duo Virginie Efira (“Benedetta”) and Tao Okamoto (“The Wolverine”). A first look teaser of the film has been released — Neon is backing US rights.
Turns out the film, which is a cinch to compete for the Palme d’Or, will likely have a similar runtime to Hamaguchi’s Oscar-winning “Drive My Car,” which clocked in at three hours. Hamaguchi co-wrote the screenplay with Léa Le Dimna. The story draws loose inspiration from “You and I – The Illness Suddenly Gets Worse,” a book by Makiko Miyano and Maho Isono that compiles a series of real-life letters exchanged between the two authors.
“All of the Sudden” will mark Hamaguchi’s first production outside of Japan and Korea. His 2021 film “Drive My Car” won acclaim at Cannes and secured a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, which has firmly established him on the international stage.
Hamaguchi’s earlier films — the highly praised five-hour “Happy Hour” and the overlooked “Asako I & II” — helped lay the groundwork for his success. His other 2021 release, the captivating triptych “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy,” is also worth watching; some even find it equal to or better than “Drive My Car.”His last film, 2023’s “Evil Does Not Exist,” was a slow-burning film that rewarded patient viewers with a powerful ending.