The Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan has chosen Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s «All of a Sudden» as the country’s official submission for the international feature category at the 99th Academy Awards.
This marks the recognised director’s second time representing Japan in the fiercely competitive Oscar race. His widely celebrated previous entry, «Drive My Car,» successfully secured the prestigious international trophy five years ago.
«All of a Sudden» represents Hamaguchi’s first foray into French-language cinema. Co-written alongside Léa Le Dimna, the script loosely adapts the non-fiction book «You and I – The Illness Suddenly Get Worse» by Makiko Miyano and Maho Isono. The narrative follows Marie-Lou Fontaine, a nursing home director in the Parisian suburbs who attempts to implement an empathetic care method known as Humanitude despite facing fierce institutional pushback from her colleagues and superiors.
The drama debuted to high expectations at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in May. Its main competition screening earned a rapturous seven-minute standing ovation and concluded with leads Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto sharing the festival’s highly coveted Best Actress prize.
Critical reception and awards campaign
Critics have praised the picture’s nuanced exploration of dignity, mortality and systemic inequality in elder care. Reviewers highlighted the dynamic performances, noting the film operates effectively as both a gripping drama and a philosophical dialogue. It currently holds universal acclaim from major review aggregators.
The film rolled out to Japanese cinemas via Bitters End on June 19, followed by a French release through Diaphana Distribution on August 12. To maintain momentum ahead of the Academy’s voting period, the feature will screen at several prominent autumn industry events, including the New York Film Festival and the San Sebastián International Film Festival.
By submitting a European-set production led by a prominent Belgian-French actress, Japan embraces a modern approach to its Oscar strategy. The association bypassed domestic box-office blockbusters in favour of a prestige auteur project with undeniable festival credentials. The Academy’s strict submission deadline for all international feature contenders falls on September 30.
