Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s ‘Drive My Car’ Marks Fifth Anniversary; Early Feature Debut Also Set for December Screening

A special opportunity is coming to see the work of director Ryusuke Hamaguchi, who has established himself as a world-renowned filmmaker, brought together on the big screen. Hailed as one of contemporary cinema’s most distinctive storytellers, Hamaguchi will have several of his signature films and early masterpieces returning to theaters this December.

A landmark story of loss and healing, spanning 5 hours and 28 minutes

The most anticipated title is ‘Drive My Car’ (2021), the film that established Hamaguchi as a master filmmaker. It returns to theaters Dec. 23 to mark the fifth anniversary of its release in Korea. Based on a short story by Haruki Murakami, the film delicately follows theater director Kafuku (played by Hidetoshi Nishijima), who has suddenly lost his wife, and his personal driver, Misaki (played by Toko Miura), as their conversations in the car lead him to confront profound grief and move toward healing. The film sparked a global phenomenon, winning the Best Screenplay award at the 74th Cannes Film Festival in 2021 and the Best International Feature Film award at the 94th Academy Awards.

Also returning to theaters on the same day is ‘Happy Hour’ (2015), a landmark work that established Hamaguchi’s signature, precise depictions of everyday life and the depths of human relationships. The film explores the fractures and secrets in the lives of four women friends in their late 30s as they search for their true selves. Despite its daunting running time of 5 hours and 28 minutes (328 minutes), the film intricately weaves together the characters’ subtle emotional shifts and earned acclaim at prestigious festivals, including the Locarno Film Festival.

‘Passion,’ the starting point of his cinema, gets its first release; ‘Asako’ rounds out the lineup

Another major highlight for film fans is the first theatrical release in Korea of Hamaguchi’s feature debut, ‘Passion’ (2008). Opening Dec. 9, ‘Passion’ was made as Hamaguchi’s graduation film at the Tokyo University of the Arts graduate school. At a gathering of friends, the engagement announcement of Kaho (played by Aoba Kawai) and Tomoya (played by Ryuta Okamoto) brings hidden feelings and fractures to the surface. The film offers a rare chance to see the tense dialogue and dynamic psychological portraits of relationships that have become hallmarks of Hamaguchi’s work, already on display in his early film.

Also back on screens since last month is ‘Asako’ (2018), a film that made a strong impression with its incisive examination of the nature of love. The acclaimed film follows Asako (played by Erika Karata), who, after her first love disappears, encounters a man who looks exactly like him and is thrown into confusion. This is set to be an ideal time to take in theaters the director’s films, from his early work through to the present.