Set in a dystopian near-future Tokyo, Neo Sora’s striking debut feature explores a group of teenagers rebelling against societal expectations. The film offers a vivid coming-of-age portrait, following best friends Yuta and Kou as they confront a world where AI surveillance is tightening under the yoke of oppressive authoritarianism.

Infused with the raw energy and pulsing with a techno soundtrack, Happyend is a hopeful, youthful vision of resistance and joy in the face of control.

The Garden Cinema View:

Happyend opens with portentous text, a blast of synth music, and glowing red orbs that all feel very Akira. Neo Sora’s follow up to his wonderfully touching portrait of his late father, Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus, is ultimately a much less bombastic vision of the future than Otomo’s anime classic, but is highly plausible nonetheless. Amongst the right wing, surveillance state gloom, is a tender and optimistic portrayal of late adolescence, and a call for us to try and change the world in small ways, and to fight for the rights of those who come after us.

These likeable and empowering themes are supported by and impressive level of craft. Each shot is delicately composed, and backed up by the Sakamoto-adjacent score. The wonderfully styled final scene suggests that we might be seeing the emergence of a significant new voice in Japanese cinema.  

Cast:
Hayato Kurihara, Yukito Hidaka, Yuta Hayashi, Shina Peng, ARAZI, Shiri Sano