Neo Sora’s ‘Happyend’: A glimpse into a near-future Tokyo

A new cinematic journey

Magnify has secured the global and U.S. sales rights to Neo Sora’s near-futuristic film, “Happyend”, just in time for its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. This intriguing movie will be showcased in the Horizons section, with Magnify managing its distribution outside of Japan and Singapore.

Plot overview: Youth in a dystopian Tokyo

Set in a near-future Tokyo, “Happyend” follows the lives of two rebellious best friends on the brink of high school graduation. As they navigate their final days of school, the looming threat of a catastrophic earthquake casts a shadow over their lives. One fateful night, a prank on their principal leads to the installation of a surveillance system in their school. Trapped between this oppressive security measure and a darkening national political climate, the friends find themselves responding in starkly different ways.

For more details, check out the trailer and information sheet.

Neo Sora’s directorial debut

“Happyend” marks Neo Sora’s debut in feature-length fiction. Sora is no stranger to the film festival circuit, having previously directed “Ryuichi Sakamoto/Opus”, which premiered at Venice and was picked up by Janus for North American distribution. His short film “The Chicken” also garnered attention at Locarno.

Production team and key contributors

The film boasts a robust production team, including:

Albert Tholen and Aiko Masubuchi at Zakkubalan
Eric Nyari of Cineric Creative
Alex C. Lo at Cinema Inutile
Anthony Chen at Giraffe Pictures

Executive producers include Kaoru Hayashi, Douglas Choi, Robina Riccitiello, and Ema Ryan Yamazaki. The key crew features Bill Kirstein as the cinematographer, Albert Tholen as the editor, and Lia Ouyang Rusli as the composer. Leading Japanese distributor Bitters End, known for handling “Parasite” and “Drive My Car”, will distribute the film in Japan starting October 5.

A unique portrayal of modern youth

Lorna Lee Torres, Magnify’s SVP of global sales, praised the film, stating, “In Tokyo-set ‘Happyend’, Neo captured a unique and surreal portrait of modern youth navigating earthquakes, mass surveillance, and friendship within a changing world. We are thrilled to champion this bold, artistic, and timely vision addressing existential questions that take on a new urgency, which we believe will deeply resonate with a global audience.”

Stellar cast

The movie stars newcomers Hayato Kurihara and Yukito Hidaka, alongside seasoned actors Ayumu Nakajima, Makiko Watanabe (known for “37 Seconds”), and Shiro Sano (famous for “Godzilla 2000”).

Reflections on friendship and societal change

Neo Sora shared his thoughts on the film, saying, “Friendship is a peculiar thing. It’s not quite like family, not quite like romance. These reflections on friendship sparked the genesis of this film.” He further explained that his movie draws “parallels with Japan’s history of earthquakes unearthing social contradictions” to envision a “near-future Japan sliding towards fascism.”

Magnify’s diverse lineup

“Happyend” joins Magnify’s impressive lineup, which includes:

“Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point” directed by Tyler Taormina, a Cannes Director’s Fortnight selection sold to IFC for North America.
“Pierce”, a Taiwanese fencing thriller directed by Nelicia Low, which won Best Director at Karlovy Vary.

For more information on these films, visit the trailer and information sheet for “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point” and the trailer and information sheet for “Pierce”.

A cinematic reflection

“Happyend” offers a thought-provoking exploration of youth, friendship, and societal change in a near-future Tokyo. As the world grapples with its own set of challenges, this film serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience and complexity of the human spirit. Whether you’re a cinema enthusiast or a casual viewer, “Happyend” promises to be a compelling addition to the world of film.