A journey through time: ‘Super Happy Forever’ and the delicate dance of grief
A love story in reverse
Super Happy Forever is a film that delicately unravels a love story in reverse, spanning five years. Set in a tranquil Japanese beach resort, the movie explores the life of Sano, a melancholic protagonist who clings to the past through the lost-and-found desk of a hotel. The film’s setting remains largely unchanged, with familiar faces and places, yet the absence of a key figure makes these similarities feel like a cruel reminder to Sano.
A melancholic opening
Opening the Venice Days program, Super Happy Forever presents a more relaxed and introspective tone compared to Kohei Igarashi’s previous works. The film, a collaboration with French outlier Damien Manivel, who returns as editor and co-producer, is a Gallic-Japanese co-production that is likely to enhance Igarashi’s reputation on the festival circuit. However, its subtlety and simplicity may limit its appeal for theatrical distribution, making it more suitable for specialist streaming platforms.
Retracing steps
“Was this the room?” asks Miyata, Sano’s best friend, as they sit in a plush hotel suite with a stunning view of Japan’s Izu peninsula coastline. It turns out to be the same room they stayed in five years ago, during a vacation free of emotional baggage. Sano, now sullen and withdrawn, is determined to retrace the steps of that trip, hoping to relive the past and perhaps change its outcome. It was during that carefree vacation that Sano first met Nagi, a cheerful young woman who would become his wife and, tragically, pass away unexpectedly in her sleep.
The weight of grief
With Sano too consumed by his emotions to speak much, the audience is left to piece together the story from hints and expressions. There is an undercurrent of guilt in Sano’s grief, as he admits that Nagi wasn’t happy and that he was “cowardly and selfish.” Miyata’s attempts to bring Sano into the present, through wellness seminars and potential double dates, are well-meaning but ultimately misguided. The film’s title, Super Happy Forever, stems from the annoyingly upbeat jargon of a workshop Miyata attends with new prospects. The strained friendship between Sano and Miyata raises questions about what has happened in the past few years and whether their camaraderie is forced.
A world changed by time
The film’s two chapters are set in 2023 and 2018, with the global pandemic serving as an undiscussed yet palpable temporal marker. A favorite café is shuttered, and the hotel is set to close after the summer season. The stiff interactions between Sano and Miyata reflect the futile attempt to chase the past in a changed world.
A seamless transition
When the film transitions to 2018, there are no immediate visual or editorial cues to signal the flashback. The cinematography by Wataru Takahashi maintains the same bright daylight throughout. However, the film’s mood lightens, and the audience can feel the burden lifting even before identifying Nagi. Her meet-cute with Sano on a ferry, while seemingly promising a romcom arc, is imbued with a sense of fatalism.
The poignancy of unseen tensions
The mutual attraction between Sano and Nagi builds quickly but not torridly, capturing the essence of perfect first dates and their afterglow. However, there is little to suggest they are soulmates destined for a shorter-than-planned life together. The poignancy of Super Happy Forever lies in its unseen tensions, negative spaces, and the ellipsis of five years where the characters assumed they had all the time in the world to recreate their happiness. Bobby Darin’s swing standard “Beyond the Sea” forges connections between the drifting characters and separated timelines, adding to the film’s balance of sorrow and insouciance.
Holding onto the moment
Igarashi’s coolly moving film doesn’t exhort viewers to seize the day in an obvious or sentimental manner. Instead, it gently suggests holding onto the moment for as long as it lasts and letting go when the time comes. Super Happy Forever is a poignant exploration of grief, memory, and the passage of time, offering a bittersweet reflection on the fleeting nature of happiness.
For more information and to watch the trailer, visit Super Happy Forever.