Japan Submits 'All of a Sudden' for Oscars
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- Japan selected Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s All of a Sudden as its entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards
- All of a Sudden premiered at Cannes with an 11-minute standing ovation and earned a Best Actress prize for stars Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto
- Ryusuke Hamaguchi co-wrote the screenplay with Léa Le Dimna, loosely adapting the book When Life Suddenly Takes a Turn by Makiko Miyano and Maho Isono
- Cinefrance Studios, Office Shirous, Bitters End, Heimatfilm, and Tarantula are the production companies behind the Japanese-French-German-Belgian co-production
- Neon will release the film in theaters on November 25
Why it matters: Japan’s selection of a bilingual, co-produced film centered on caregiving and cross-cultural connection signals a strategic emphasis on global resonance over national insularity. With Hamaguchi previously nominated for *Drive My Car*, the choice reinforces his role as a key figure in Japan’s international cinematic representation, potentially increasing the film’s visibility and awards traction.
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