Film Review - Happyend

Images courtesy of Plainwater Films.

Neo Sora created such a disturbing prediction of surveillance technology that it’s honestly hard to watch. A film like Happyend will be one referenced in decades to come when future generations attempt to understand the social and political landscape of the 2020’s. It’s a film that strikes right into the heart of many anxieties shared throughout the world and wraps it into a deceivingly wholesome ‘coming-of-age’ story.

Happyend takes you through the lives of five teenagers who are navigating the turbulent waters of a near-future Japan. After a prank on the principal, surveillance is installed in the school to monitor the students. Drawing clear similarities between George Orwell’s novel, 1984, it constructs a horrifying reality that hits far too close to home. Despite Sora cloaking this clear social commentary in teenage drama, the film builds a deep understanding of how people and relationships can be tested in such a public and erratic environment. 

The two main protagonists Kou (Yukito Hidaka) and Yuta (Hayato Kurihara), explore a friendship that is shifting under the pressure of graduation. Their entire social group’s friendships become vessels to explore various issues such as racism, privilege, radicalism and personal freedoms. It is a wonderful example of the art of screen-writing, holding up a mirror to our own world in a way that does not believe in cushioned pleasantries. 

In terms of the film’s construction, the acting and production are competent but not exceptional. It is clear that Sora’s focus was on creating a film that speaks to audiences whilst reminding them of the urgency that thrums throughout global communities. This is not to say that it is not a visually beautiful film. However, I found that it relied on whimsical establishing shots or tasteful close-ups on random objects to flesh out the narrative. The film slowed in the middle, which begs the question: are such seemingly random aesthetic shots needed in a film with a 113-minute runtime?

I would recommend the film entirely on the basis of the story itself. It offers an insightful and raw depiction of the nervous recklessness we see emerging in our generation.

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Happyend is screening in select cinemas now. For tickets and more info, click here.