Murakami adaptation by Japan's Hamaguchi vies for Cannes awards, Entertainment News

Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Road‑Trip Romance Hits Cannes

What’s the Surprise?

Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi rolled out his latest film at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday, July 11. Audiences got a front‑row seat to a story that blends heartbreak and regrets with the carefree vibe of a classic road movie.

Plot Sneak Peek

Multiple car rides stitch together the emotional journey of the characters.
Each stretch of highway acts like a mirror, reflecting past mistakes and the longing for what could have been.
The film balances dramatic twists with moments of quiet humor.

Why It Matters

Hamaguchi’s work shows that a simple road trip can become a profound meditation on love and loss. It’s the kind of cinema that leaves you both laughing and thinking—exactly the type of originality that keeps critics whispering at Cannes.

Drive My Car: A Road‑Trip of Love, Loss, and a Dash of Japanese Cinema

Why the Car Matters

Hiroshi Hamaguchi spotted something special in the confined space of a vehicle, a place where words can spill like wine and secrets can be whispered.
“It’s the intimacy that comes alive through long, winding conversations,” he told a journalist, hinting that a car can be a stage far smaller than any theater.
Picture this: a cramped cabin becomes a “dialogue incubator” where characters grow as they talk.

The Cast of Car‑ridden Characters

Hidetoshi Nishijima, the troubled theatre star, deals with the wreckage of a marital mishap and the sudden loss of his wife.
He’s in a desperate mood, his heart racing like a city‑stroll at midnight.
Fast‑forward two years—he’s still nursing his grief but heads to Hiroshima.
There, he’s about to run a multilingual production of “Uncle Vanya” and meets his driver, Miura Toko (Misaki).

Conversations on Wheels

As they cruise, the driver and actor trade stories about their pasts, hopes, and the occasional meme.
It’s a one‑on‑one chat that stitches two lives together, mirroring the layered narrative of that legendary Japanese short story by Haruki Murakami.

Back on the Red Carpet: Cannes After the Lockdown

Release day: June 28, a date that lands smack in the middle of the Cannes Film Festival.
The festival buzzes with excitement now that it’s finally returned, having shelved its 2020 edition for viral shenanigans.
Through this film, the audience catches a glimpse of what happens when a vehicle transforms into a liminal space where the past and present collide.

Feel‑the‑Car‑gedy!

Any time you’re riding in a car, how many times have you turned the conversation into a therapy session? This story turns that everyday ride into a full‑blown emotional odyssey.
And the best part? It keeps you glued to the screen, wondering if your next trip on the road might bring your own “confession station” to life.

How a Japanese Film Makes Multilingual Actors Work Like a Comedy Skit

Meet the Cast

Picture a film where the cast speaks in a mash‑up of languages, but none of them can actually understand each other. That’s the vibe Jørgen Hamaguchi is playing at.

Korean actress Park Yoo‑rim is the silent star—she delivers her lines entirely with sign language.
Every other actor arrives from a different corner of the globe, creating a silent movie‑style reality.

Why It’s Fun (and Frightening)

Hamaguchi notes that the actors not sharing a common language transforms the movie into a “silent comedy” full of awkward pauses and surprise reactions. Watching them make eye contact, tilt heads, and invent new ways to convey meaning is like watching a live brainstorming session.

Early Buzz

The film’s quick turn to critical acclaim is no joke—especially when critics rave about the lead stars. The ensemble cast’s raw, unfiltered performance gives this cinematic experiment the authenticity of an indie success story.