All of a Sudden

All of a Sudden (Soudain / 急に具合が悪くなる) — Release Date: 19 June 2026. Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, starring Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto. Co-written by Hamaguchi and Léa Le Dimna, the film is a French-language drama inspired by the non-fiction book You and I – The Illness Suddenly Get Worse by Makiko Miyano and Maho Isono.

Set primarily in the suburbs of Paris, All of a Sudden follows Marie-Lou Fontaine, a nursing home director who attempts to implement a compassionate caregiving philosophy known as Humanitude. The approach emphasizes dignity, empathy, and human connection in patient care, but Marie-Lou faces institutional resistance and skepticism from colleagues as she tries to introduce the method within a conventional healthcare system.

Her professional journey takes a deeply personal turn when she encounters Mari Morisaki, a Japanese playwright who is terminally ill. As the two women develop a connection, their interactions begin to reshape Marie-Lou’s understanding of care, mortality, and emotional presence. The narrative explores their evolving relationship against the backdrop of cultural exchange between France and Japan, reflecting on differing perspectives on illness and end-of-life experiences.

The film draws loosely from a collection of letters exchanged between philosopher Makiko Miyano and medical anthropologist Maho Isono, which documented reflections on life, illness, and death. These writings serve as the conceptual foundation for the story’s thematic focus on human vulnerability and connection.

Virginie Efira portrays Marie-Lou Fontaine, while Tao Okamoto plays Mari Morisaki. Supporting roles include Kyōzō Nagatsuka and Kodai Kurosaki. The film is a co-production between France, Japan, Germany, and Belgium, with filming taking place across Paris and Kyoto.

Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, the project marks his French-language debut and continues his exploration of intimate, character-driven storytelling. The film had its world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed in the main competition for the Palme d’Or.

All of a Sudden is scheduled for theatrical release in Japan on 19 June 2026, followed by a release in France on 12 August 2026.