Happyend

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Dimitris P Happy End unfolds as a sharp meditation on contradictions at the heart of contemporary society. It stages the tension between adolescence and coming of age, where innocence collides with the weight of responsibility. Technology appears in dual forms: a blessing through electronic music’s creativity and connection, but also a nightmare when reduced to systems of surveillance and control. Tradition, too, is double-edged — a source of heritage expressed through values and food, yet also a tool for exclusion when twisted into nationalism and xenophobia. By weaving these contrasts together, the film captures the full arc of modern dilemmas in Western societies and beyond, revealing how progress and regression coexist uneasily in our time. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/27/25 Full Review Robin C “Happyend” In a near, dystopian future, a group of high school students pull an elaborate prank on the principal and his beloved car. Outraged by their disrespect, he orders surveillance cameras placed everywhere. And, a hundred year earthquake is predicted, threatening great devastation in “Happyend.” The small group of high school students/rebels, led by Yuta (Hayato Kurihara) and Kou (Yukito Hidaka), are a mix of native Japans and Korean – leading to a societal prejudice against outsiders. This, though, does not include the small band of brothers and sisters who, to each other, are family. It is a turbulent time in the country, not just the high school, with the Prime Minister threatening to crack down on immigrants and restricting people’s movement in country. This gives the school principal reason to punish all for the actions of a few with intrusive surveillance cameras watching the many. When his threat to install surveillance cameras everywhere in school becomes reality, the pranksters set out to circumvent the system whenever possible. It is the rebels’ graduation year and some of the group just want to enjoy their life before becoming an adult. Others, though, want to continue the radicalism and rebellion against authority. Soon, their promises to stick together after graduation grow less as each will go in a different direction. There is a lot to unpack here as we deal with student rebellion, increasingly restrictive rules, in school and out, prejudice and just plain growing up. The society is moving to authoritarian rule but, to the kids, they are not there yet. While Yuta and Kou are the nominal “stars” of the film, it is really an ensemble with the two as first among equals. And these kids seem a bit more mature than I would expect for a Japanese high school student, though that comes from my dealings with American high school kids. DIrector/writer Neo Sora does not do a “dystopian future” the way we do in the US. Here, it is a lot less a “bad” future than, say, our recent “The Long Walk” where volunteers walk or die. In either case, authoritarian government is authoritarian government. B Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/23/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 53 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $9,800.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/19/25 Full Review Chris Z Japanese film that’s written Hongkong all over. I’m amazed by how accurate it is capturing the subtle apocalyptic era for youths in Asia. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/23/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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