Happy Hour (2015)

A slow-burning epic chronicling the emotional journey of four thirty something women in the misty seaside city of Kobe.

Director:

Ryûsuke Hamaguchi

Writers:

Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Tadashi Nohara

Stars:

Sachie Tanaka, Hazuki Kikuchi, Maiko Mihara

6 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Sachie Tanaka	...	Akari
Hazuki Kikuchi	...	Sakurako
Maiko Mihara	...	Fumi
Rira Kawamura	...	Jun
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hiromi Demura	...	Hinako
Shoko Fukunaga	...	Mitsu
Yuichiro Ito	...	Kawano
Tsugumi Kugai	...	Yoshie
Hiroyuki Miura	...	Takuya
Hajime Sakasho	...	Kazama
Shuhei Shibata	...	Ukai
Ayaka Shibutani	...	Yuzuki
Reina Shiihashi	...	Kozue
Yoshio Shin	...	Yoshihiko
Yasunobu Tanabe	...	Kurita

Storyline

Four women. All in their 30s. Three married, one divorcee. They are able to tell each other anything. Or at least they thought. One day, after losing in divorce court, one of them gives up on a future with their partner and disappears. The three remaining women take a second look at their lives. The long night is full of questions. 'Are you really the you you wanted to be?'

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Plot Keywords:

inviting sexual advances | wanted sexual advances | abusive wife | lying wife | shorthaired woman | 

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Taglines:

A unique experience

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

In France, the film was released theatrically in three parts over three weeks, respectively dubbed "1&2", "3&4" and "5". The film was thus advertised as "The First Cinema TV Series".

User Reviews

Japanese women on the verge

Binged this 317-minute realistic drama about four female friends who come to grips with their feelings of doubt and disappointment as they enter middle age, in particular with the relational shortcomings of men. The slow, detailed narrative, with its prolonged scenes and interwoven story lines around a centering drama and unique structural elegance, mesmerized me. This is rare, meaty fare far afield from the happily-ever-after screenplays that are all too common among Japanese movies, at least the ones I've watched heretofore on Amazon Prime.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official Site

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

12 December 2015 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Senses 1&2

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$461,620

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fictive, Kobe Workshop Cinema Project, Neopa Co.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

317 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1