Photo/Illutration “Happyend” (Provided by Bitters End Inc.)

Director Neo Sora’s first feature film “Happyend” portrays the sparkle and pain of youth in a cool manner. 

But it also sounds a warning against the escalation of division and the control of modern society. 

Set in the near-future Japan, the story opens on five high school friends hanging out as usual.

Although they and many of their classmates come from various backgrounds, the film stops short of emphasizing their diversity.

“I kept in mind not to dramatize diversity and shoot scenes in a matter-of-fact manner,” the director said.

Kou (played by Yukito Hidaka) is part of a family who runs a Korean restaurant, while Yuta (Hayato Kurihara) comes from a wealthy home.

But the relationship between the childhood friends begins to change.

An artificial intelligence-based surveillance system is introduced to monitor rule-breaking students while the prime minister calls for the need of special clauses in emergency situations on TV.

The five oppose the surveillance system, but many of their peers welcome it.

"I think it will be more effective to invest in solving underlying problems such as class division and exploitation that cause crime rather than spending budgets on camera installations," Sora said. 

Earthquakes are also a recurring motif as the characters' worlds are upended by the changes.

The director said he felt an urge to make this film because of the Korean residents massacred in the aftermath of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.

“Things still continue to be said and done to incite hatred against non-Japanese people,” Sora said. “I wanted to show how the year 1923 is connected with the modern age.”

“Happyend” was chosen for the Venice Film Festival’s Orizzonti section dedicated to cutting-edge films. It is currently playing in theaters nationwide.

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