Neon Acquires Ryusuke Hamaguchi's 'All of a Sudden' for U.S. Release
Neon has secured the U.S. distribution rights for Ryusuke Hamaguchi's latest film, 'All of a Sudden,' a captivating drama set in Paris. This marks a significant deal in the European Film Market, with the project reportedly valued in the seven figures. The film, produced and sold internationally by Cinefrance, features a stellar cast, including Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto, and is directed by Hamaguchi, who made waves in 2022 with his Oscar-nominated 'Drive My Car.'
'All of a Sudden' tells the story of Marie-Lou Fontaine (Efira), a director at a nursing home in the Paris suburbs, who introduces the revolutionary 'Humanitude' method, despite facing resistance from her team. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Mari Morisaki (Okamoto), a terminally ill Japanese playwright. Together, they inspire a transformation in the facility, turning it into a symbol of resistance and humanity. The film draws inspiration from a collection of real-life letters, published in the book 'When Life Suddenly Takes a Turn: Twenty Letters Between a Philosopher with Terminal Cancer and a Medical Anthropologist.'
Cinefrance, representing the film alongside Bitters End, has already secured deals with Plaion for Germany and Austria, and September Film for Benelux. The production involves a collaboration between Cinefrance Studios, Office Shirous & Bitters End in Japan, Heimatfilm in Germany, and Tarantula in Belgium. Diaphana will handle distribution in France, while Bitters End will manage the Japanese release.
Hamaguchi's 'Drive My Car' achieved international acclaim, earning four Oscar nominations, including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, and becoming Japan's first-ever Best Picture nominee. The film won the Best International Feature award. His previous works, such as 'Evil Does Not Exist' and 'Gift,' have also garnered critical acclaim, with 'Evil Does Not Exist' winning the Silver Lion and the Fipresci prize at the Venice Film Festival.
