All of a Sudden

Ryûsuke Hamaguchi weaves another poignant drama, this time about illness, friendship, art and care.

In his first film in French, Marie-Lou (Virginie Efira), the director of a care home meets Mari (Tao Okamoto), a Japanese theatre director with terminal cancer. Despite different languages and ideas, their bond becomes a profound reflection on what it means to care. Shot in a facility with real patients, Hamaguchi’s unfurling epic is a transformative experience for both the characters and audience.

“The result is a treasure, a transcendent film whose power is capable of rekindling one’s hope in humanity. It’s an invitation for those in the grasp of despair to maybe stay a little longer among the living.” — Carlos Aguilar, The Playlist

Content Guidance: Contains themes of illness and bereavement.