Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi's film 『急に具合が悪くなる』 was officially selected for the Competition section of the 79th Cannes International Film Festival [1].
This selection places Hamaguchi among the top tier of international filmmakers vying for the Palme d’Or, the festival's highest honor. The inclusion of his work underscores the continuing global influence of contemporary Japanese cinema and Hamaguchi's standing as a leading artistic voice.
The competition lineup was announced May 9, 2024 [2], shortly before the festival opened May 12, 2024 [2]. Hamaguchi’s entry is one of three Japanese films featured in the competition section of the 79th edition [1].
Cannes officials selected the film as part of a broader effort to highlight international works of high artistic merit [3, 4]. The Competition section is the most prestigious category of the festival, where a small number of films are chosen to compete for the top prize.
Following the screening, the film received 14 minutes of applause from the audience. Hamaguchi said he was surprised at the reception and wondered if the viewers had enjoyed the work to such an extent.
While the festival takes place in France, the film is scheduled for a theatrical release in Japan June 19, 2024 [3].
“Ryusuke Hamaguchi's film 『急に具合が悪くなる』 was officially selected for the Competition section of the 79th Cannes International Film Festival.”
The selection of three Japanese films in the 79th Cannes competition signals a strong institutional interest in Japanese narratives. For Hamaguchi, the 14-minute standing ovation suggests a high level of critical and audience reception that often translates into international distribution deals and awards momentum ahead of the June 19, 2024, domestic release.
