All of a Sudden

"One night. Two strangers. A lifetime of questions."

2026 3h 16m JA

🙌

8.0

BANGER

🔥

97%

CERTIFIED FRESH

💯

METACRITIC

⭐

IMDB

★8.0TMDB · 57🍅97%Rotten Tomatoes●87Metacritic★8IMDB · 83

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Director of a care facility for the elderly, Marie-Lou strives to introduce an innovative care philosophy based on listening and respecting residents’ dignity, despite resistance from part of her staff. Her encounter with Mari, a Japanese theater director battling cancer, will profoundly reshape her path. By forming a deep, supportive friendship, the two women join forces in a shared struggle to make the impossible possible.

“One night. Two strangers. A lifetime of questions.”

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Cast

Virginie Efira
Marie-Lou Fontaine
Tao Okamoto
Mari Morisaki
Kyōzō Nagatsuka
Goro Kiyomiya
Kodai Kurosaki
Tomoki Kubodera
Jean-Charles Clichet
Olivier
Marie Bunel
Sophie
Romain Cottard
Damien
Marie Denarnaud
Laurence

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Writers: Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Léa Le Dimna
Languages: French, Japanese, English
Countries: Japan, France, Belgium, Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

At 196 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released this year — you're seeing it while it's still in the cultural conversation.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: French, Japanese, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 4 countries: Japan, France, Belgium, Germany.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, shot by Alan Guichaoua. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Samuel Andreyev. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Azusa Yamazaki shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto and Kyōzō Nagatsuka carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ryusuke Hamaguchi directs. Alan Guichaoua behind the camera. Samuel Andreyev scores. Azusa Yamazaki cuts. A long sit — settle in. Produced in Japan, France, Belgium, Germany. Dialogue in French, Japanese, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1At 196 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.
2Released this year — you're seeing it while it's still in the cultural conversation.
3Dialogue crosses 3 languages: French, Japanese, English.
4International production across 4 countries: Japan, France, Belgium, Germany.
5Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, shot by Alan Guichaoua. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Samuel Andreyev. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Azusa Yamazaki shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto and Kyōzō Nagatsuka carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "One night. Two strangers. A lifetime of questions.".
10IMDB entry: tt36834996 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Only 57 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
12Classified under 9 themes, including "paris, france", "based on novel or book", "capitalism", "philosophy".

The technical file

Cinematography: Alan Guichaoua
Original score: Samuel Andreyev
Editing: Azusa Yamazaki
Production design: Mila Preli
Costume design: Caroline Spieth
Makeup / hair: Amélie Bouilly
Runtime: 196 min · 3h 16m
Status: Released
Original language: JA
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: All of a Sudden (2026)
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% 🍅 Fresh
Metacritic: 87/100
IMDB rating: 8/10 · 83 votes

Awards

1 nomination total

Also by

Ryusuke Hamaguchi

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Production companies

Who made it

Cinéfrance Studios
FR
Office Shirous
JP
Bitters End
JP
Tarantula
BE
Heimatfilm
DE
ARTE France Cinéma
FR
GapBusters
BE
Same Player
FR
MA
Marignan Films
FR
FI
Fictive
JP
DA
Dauphin Films
FR
Saudade Film
DE

Key crew

First Assistant CameraKatie Baillot
EditorAzusa Yamazaki
First Assistant DirectorAmandine Escoffier
CastingCoralie Amédéo
Makeup ArtistAmélie Bouilly
HairstylistMathieu Guéraçague
Costume DesignCaroline Spieth
Production DesignMila Preli
ProducerDavid Gauquié
ProducerJulien Deris
ProducerKosuke Oshida
ProducerYuji Sadai
ProducerRenan Artukmac
ProducerJean-Luc Ormières
ProducerHiroko Matsuda
ProducerJoseph Rouschop
ProducerBettina Brokemper
Co-ProducerCharles-Henri de la Rochefoucauld
Co-ProducerOlivier Père
Executive ProducerEmir Külal Haznevi
Executive ProducerMike Downey
ProducerCharlotte Dauphin
BookMaoko Miyano
BookMaho Isono

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

paris, france
based on novel or book
capitalism
philosophy
dementia
female friendship
theater director
cancer
female protagonist

Release history · US

When it landed

Premiere2026-10-01· New York Film Festival
Premiere2026-10-04· Mill Valley Film Festival
Premiere2026-10-03· Hamptons International Film Festival
Premiere2026-10-18· Woodstock Film Festival / Middleburg Film Festival
Premiere2026-10-16· Chicago International Film Festival
Premiere2026-10-17· Heartland Film Festival / FilmColumbia Film Festival / Philadelphia Film Festival
Premiere2026-10-15· Orcas Island Film Festival / Santa Fe International Film Festival
Premiere2026-10-24· Hawai'i International Film Festival / Montclair Film Festival / Virginia Film Festival / Denver Film Festival
Premiere2026-10-25· AFI Fest
Premiere2026-10-10· IFFBoston Fall Focus