Happyend

Directed by Neo Sora
Japan
2024
113 mins

Synopsis

Set in a near-future Tokyo, a high school introduces intense surveillance of its students, inspiring revolt. An engrossing debut feature about politics, rebellion and friendship. Venice 2024.

When two friends play a brilliant prank at school, the principal is not amused – but it does give the administration the perfect opportunity to install an intrusive surveillance system, monitoring the students’ every move and issuing draconian punishments for infractions. While some students become increasingly politicised and rebellious, others seem unaffected, leading to rifts even amongst the best of friends. The young, predominantly non-professional cast give vibrant, authentic performances, capturing the frustrations and insecurity faced by today’s youth. With impeccable craft and ideas stretching far beyond the frame, director Neo Sora (Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus) has fashioned an elegant allegory for our time.

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.

The film’s endless walls of white and grey belie its focus on a group of young people whose hearts are bursting with colour – even the ones who’ve given up on their generation still find a way to believe in each other.
David Ehrlich, IndieWire

Tickets

Wed 4 June 2025, 6:15pm
Event Cinemas George Street - Cinema 3
WheelchairAssisted ListeningSubtitled
Sat 7 June 2025, 8:15pm
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 1
WheelchairAssisted ListeningSubtitled
Sun 8 June 2025, 6pm
State Library of NSW
WheelchairAssisted ListeningSubtitled
  • Program Strand
  • Year
    2024
  • Classification
    Unclassified 15+
  • Country
    Japan, USA
  • Language
    In Japanese with English subtitles
  • Director
    Neo Sora
  • Producer
    Albert Tholen, Aiko Masubuchi, Eric Nyari, Anthony Chen, Alex C. Lo
  • Cast
    Hayato Kurihara, Yukito Hidaka, Yuta Hayashi
  • Screenwriter
    Neo Sora
  • Cinematographer
    Bill Kirstein
  • Editor
    Albert Tholen
  • Genre
  • Premiere
    Australian Premiere
  • Company Credits
    World Sales: Magnify
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