Magnify has acquired global and U.S. sales rights to Neo Sora’s near-futuristic film “Happyend” ahead of its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The movie will play in the Horizons section and is being handled by Magnify outside of Japan and Singapore.
Set in a near-future Tokyo, “Happyend” revolves around two rabble-rousing best friends who are about to graduate high school while threats of a catastrophic earthquake looms. One night, they pull a prank on their principal, which leads to a surveillance system being installed in their school. Stuck between the oppressive security system and a darkening national political situation, the two respond in contrasting ways.
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The movie marks Sora’s fiction feature debut. His previous credits include “Ryuichi Sakamoto/Opus” which premiered at Venice and was picked by Janus for North America, and short films, such as “The Chicken” which premiered in Locarno, among others.
“Happyend” was produced by Albert Tholen and Masubuchi Aiko at Zakkubalan; Eric Nyari (“Black Box Diaries”) of Cineric Creative; Alex C. Lo (“The Settlers”) at Cinema Inutile; and Anthony Chen (“The Breaking Ice”) at Giraffe Pictures. Executive producers are Hayashi Kaoru, Douglas Choi, Robina Riccitiello, and Ema Ryan Yamazaki. The key crew includes cinematographer Bill Kirstein (“Mean Girls”), editor Albert Tholen, composer Lia Ouyang Rusli. Leading Japanese distributor Bitters End, which previously handled “Parasite” and “Drive My Car,” will be distributing in Japan theatrically starting Oct. 5.
“In Tokyo-set ‘Happyend,’ Neo captured a unique and surreal portrait of modern youth navigating earthquakes, mass surveillance, and friendship within a changing world,” said Magnify SVP of global sales Lorna Lee Torres. “We are thrilled to champion this bold, artistic, and timely vision addressing existential questions that take on a new urgency, which we believe will deeply resonate with a global audience,” she continued.
The movie stars newcomers Kurihara Hayato and Hidaka Yukito, alongside distinguished veterans Nakajima Ayumu, Watanabe Makiko (“37 Seconds”) and Sano Shiro (“Godzilla 2000”).
“Friendship is a peculiar thing,” said Sora. “It’s not quite like family, not quite like romance. These reflections on friendship sparked the genesis of this film.” The filmmaker said his movie draws “parallels with Japan’s history of earthquakes unearthing social contradictions” to envision a “near-future Japan sliding towards fascism.”
“Happyend” joins Magnify’s lineup, which also includes Cannes Director´s Fortnight selection “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point” directed by Tyler Taormina, which sold to IFC for North America; Taiwanese fencing thriller “Pierce” that took home best director for Nelicia Low at Karlovy Vary, among others.
