Ryusuke Hamaguchi's 'Suddenly' Competes at 2026 Cannes Film Festival
Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi presents his new film, "Suddenly" (original title: "Soudain"), in the official competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. This marks Hamaguchi's first feature set in Paris, continuing his signature style of deep, spoken-word cinema. The narrative centers on Marie-Lou Fontaine, played by Virginie Efira, who manages a nursing home in the Paris suburbs while struggling with staff shortages and corporate financial pressures. She employs a care method known as "Humanitude." Her life intersects with Mari Morisaki, a Japanese playwright portrayed by Tao Okamoto, who is in Paris for a show inspired by antipsychiatrist Franco Basaglia. Upon discovering that Mari has terminal cancer, the two women engage in an extensive, overnight dialogue. Their conversation evolves from personal connection to broader existential, political, and social reflections. The film draws inspiration from real-life epistolary exchanges between Japanese philosopher Makiko Miyano and medical anthropologist Maho Isono, exploring themes of care, mortality, and human connection.
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