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Before Neo Sora’s Happyend introduces any of its characters, the film previews their social conditions. “The systems that define people are crumbling in Japan,” reads a title card at the outset, establishing stakes beyond just the individual circumstances of the characters. While alternately impressive as teen drama and political commentary, the film never satisfactorily synthesizes the two scales at which it analyzes Japanese society.

Happyend’s technological dystopia is a natural outgrowth of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that destabilized nuclear reactors—not to mention public trust—across Japan. Sora’s film envisions a not-too-distant future where climate change turns the threat of such shocks into an organizing principle of daily life. The country absorbs these constant threats into its security apparatus, which sends out apocalyptic cellphone alerts only to quickly retract its warnings of doom. Predatory enterprises always immediately follow suit, skywriting in the clouds “Emergency Sale: 20% Off Canned...

"If we're going to die, let's have fun." NYFF has revealed the first look teaser for a Japanese film arriving soon called Happyend, the first feature film directed by filmmaker Neo Sora, best known for his many Ryuichi Sakamoto docs. Happyend is premiering at the 2024 Venice Film Festival this weekend, before it goes on to play at both TIFF and NYFF later this fall, with an October release in Japan. Set in near-future Tokyo, the threat of a catastrophic earthquake looms. Two friends prank their principal before graduation, leading to school surveillance installation, which eventually leads to a rift between the high schooler boys. Happyend "amplifies the sociopolitical dynamics already present in Japan today." It's another fascinating surveillance thriller, with commentary on contemporary society, much like the other one Stranger Eyes also premiering in Venice. With Hayato Kurihara, Yukito Hidaka, Yuta Hayashi, Shina Peng, Arazi, Kilala Inori, Pushim, and Makiko Watanabe.