Cinema VinesNeon has released the first trailer for “All of a Sudden,” the newest feature from Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi. The film, written by Hamaguchi and Léa Le Dimna, follows the lives of two women who find unexpected companionship in the face of illness and institutional resistance. In the trailer, Marie‑Lou, portrayed by Belgian‑French actress Virginie Efira, works as a director at a senior care facility. She champions a patient‑centred philosophy that challenges her skeptical staff. Her path crosses with Mari, played by Japanese model and actress Tao Okamoto, a theatre director who is battling cancer. Their meeting sparks a friendship that reshapes both of their lives and fuels a shared mission to “make the impossible possible.”
The film’s logline, as presented in the promotional material, highlights the emotional depth of the story: Marie‑Lou’s commitment to dignity and listening for the elderly residents, and Mari’s struggle with a life‑altering illness. Their bond becomes a catalyst for change within the care facility and in their own personal journeys. The narrative is grounded in the non‑fiction book “You and I – The Illness Suddenly Get Worse” by Makiko Miyano and Maho Isono, giving the drama a real‑world basis.
“All of a Sudden” was honored with a shared Best Actress award at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, a rare accolade that went to Efira and Okamoto for their performances. The film also earned Japan’s submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, following Hamaguchi’s 2021 triumph with “Drive My Car,” which won the same category at the 94th Oscars.
The production is a multinational effort, with French studio Cinefrance Studios (David Gauquié, Julien Deris, Jean‑Luc Ormières, Renan Artukmaç), Japan’s Office Shirous and Bitters End (Hiroko Matsuda, Kosuke Oshida, Yuji Sadai), German Heimatfilm (Bettina Brokemper), and Belgian Tarantula (Joseph Rouschop) all contributing to the project. The movie is slated for a U.S. theatrical release on November 25, 2026.
