Ryusuke Hamaguchi film release and awards

Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s French-Japanese drama, titled ‘Soudain’ or ‘All of a Sudden’, received dual acting awards at the Cannes Film Festival for lead actresses Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto. The film follows the developing friendship between Marie-Lou, a French nursing home director, and Mari, a Japanese theater director battling terminal cancer, as they explore new philosophies of dignified care.

The narrative examines the philosophy of ‘humanitude’—a method of care centered on dignity and interaction—while contrasting these ideals against the pressures of capitalism and financial constraints. During the festival, Virginie Efira described the filming process as a “transformative life experience” and praised Hamaguchi’s ability to elicit high-quality performances. Efira also offered commentary on the current state of film festivals, criticizing a perceived trend toward “polite, superficial standing ovations” that lack the passionate debate seen in previous eras.

Following its festival success, the distributor Neon announced a theatrical release scheduled for 25 November 2026, accompanied by an awards-season campaign. Upon its theatrical release, it was noted that the film features a significant runtime of over three hours. Hamaguchi indicated that the production was inspired by correspondence between a philosopher and an anthropologist regarding the nature of care.