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Ryusuke Hamaguchi

{{short description|Japanese film director and screenwriter}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}

{{Eastern name order|Hamaguchi Ryūsuke}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Ryusuke Hamaguchi

| image = Ryusuke Hamaguchi (HKAFF2018) (cropped).png

| alt =

| caption = Hamaguchi in 2018.

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|12|16|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality =

| alma_mater = {{ubl|University of Tokyo|Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music (M.A.)}}

| occupation = {{flatlist|

  • Film director
  • screenwriter}}

| years_active = 2001–present

| signature = Ryusuke Hamaguchi signature.svg

|module = {{Infobox Chinese/Japanese |

| romaji = Hamaguchi Ryūsuke

| kyujitai =

| shinjitai =

| hide = no

}}

}}

{{nihongo|Ryusuke Hamaguchi|濱口 竜介|Hamaguchi Ryūsuke|{{IPA|ja|hamaꜜɡɯtɕi ɾʲɯꜜːsɯ̥ke||Ja-Hamaguchi Ryūsuke.ogg}}; born 16 December 1978}} is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. An alumnus of the University of Tokyo and the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, he started gaining attention in his home country with the graduate film Passion (2008).

Hamaguchi first gained international recognition with the film Happy Hour (2015) and continued with Asako I & II (2018). In 2021, he released two films, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy and Drive My Car; for the latter, he received Academy Awards nominations for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, and accepted the award for Best International Feature Film. He is the third Japanese director to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Director.{{cite web|last1=Tartaglione|first1=Nancy|title=Oscars: 'Drive My Car' Makes History As First Japanese Film Nominated For Best Picture|url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/drive-my-car-oscar-nominations-records-japan-1234928470/|website=Deadline|date=8 February 2022 |access-date=9 February 2022|language=en}} In 2023, he released two films Evil Does Not Exist and Gift.

Career

After graduating from the University of Tokyo, Hamaguchi worked in the commercial film industry for a few years before entering the graduate program in film at Tokyo University of the Arts where he studied with and was influenced by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.{{cite web|last1=里信|first1=邦子|title=「ハッピーアワー」の濱口監督、「人は本当に思っていることが言えない」|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/jpn/%E7%AC%AC%EF%BC%96%EF%BC%98%E5%9B%9E%E3%83%AD%E3%82%AB%E3%83%AB%E3%83%8E%E5%9B%BD%E9%9A%9B%E6%98%A0%E7%94%BB%E7%A5%AD%EF%BC%92%EF%BC%90%EF%BC%91%EF%BC%95add-the-underline-%E3%83%8F%E3%83%83%E3%83%94%E3%83%BC%E3%82%A2%E3%83%AF%E3%83%BC-%E3%81%AE%E6%BF%B1%E5%8F%A3%E7%9B%A3%E7%9D%A3--%E4%BA%BA%E3%81%AF%E6%9C%AC%E5%BD%93%E3%81%AB%E6%80%9D%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%81%8C%E8%A8%80%E3%81%88%E3%81%AA%E3%81%84-/41612268|website=SWI swissinfo|date=20 August 2015 |access-date=5 March 2018|language=ja}} His graduation film Passion was selected for the competition of the 2008 Tokyo Filmex.{{cite web|title=『Passion』濱口竜介（監督）インタビュー|url=http://eigageijutsu.com/article/97397354.html|website=Eiga Geijutsu|access-date=5 March 2018|language=ja}}{{cite web|title=Tokyo FILMeX Competition|url=http://www.filmex.net/2008/compe.htm|website=TOKYO FILMeX 2008|publisher=Tokyo FILMeX|access-date=5 March 2018}}{{cite web|title=映画に寄せるたおやかなパッション──濱口竜介監督インタヴュー|url=http://www.flowerwild.net/2009/02/2009-02-18_144543.php|website=Flower Wild|access-date=5 March 2018}}

With Kō Sakai, he made a three-part documentary about survivors of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, with Voices from the Waves being selected for the competition at the 2013 Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival,{{cite web|title=YIDFF: Past Festivals: 2013: Screening List|url=http://www.yidff.jp/2013/2013list-e.html#p12|publisher=Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival|access-date=5 March 2018}} and Storytellers winning the Sky Perfect IDEHA Prize.{{cite web|title=YIDFF: Past Festivals: 2013|url=http://www.yidff.jp/2013/2013-e.html|publisher=Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival|access-date=5 March 2018}}

His next film, Happy Hour, was first developed while Hamaguchi was an artist in residence at KIITO Design and Creative Center Kobe in 2013.{{cite web|title=濱口竜介監督作品『ハッピーアワー』ロカルノ国際映画祭にて最優秀女優賞受賞／脚本スペシャルメンション授与 KIITO|url=http://kiito.jp/schedule/news/article/13557/|website=KIITO|access-date=5 March 2018|language=ja}} It came out of an improvisational acting workshop he held for non-professionals, with many of the film's performers having participated in the workshop.{{cite web|last1=Sullivan|first1=Dan|title=Review: Happy Hour, Ryusuke Hamaguchi|url=https://www.filmcomment.com/article/review-happy-hour-ryusuke-hamaguchi/|website=Film Comment|access-date=5 March 2018}} The four lead actresses shared the best actress award and the film earned a special mention for its script at the 2015 Locarno Film Festival.{{cite web|title=Palmarès 2015|url=https://pardo.ch/pardo/pardo-live/today-at-festival/2015/day-11/LOC68-Palmares/palmares-2015.html|website=pardo.ch|access-date=4 March 2018}} Hamaguchi was also given a special jury award at the 2016 Japan Movie Critic Awards,{{cite web|title=Dai 25-kai Jusho Sakuhin|url=http://jmcao.org/awards.html#aw16|website=日本映画批評家大賞 公式サイト|publisher=Japan Movie Critics Award|access-date=5 March 2018}} as well as a best newcomer award in the film division of the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Geijutsu Sensho Awards that year.{{cite web|title=Geijutsu Senshō Rekidai Jushōsha Ichiran|url=http://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/geijutsubunka/jutenshien/geijutsuka/sensho/pdf/rekidai_jushosha.pdf|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan|access-date=5 March 2018}}

His Asako I & II was selected to compete for the {{lang|fr|Palme d'Or|italic=no}} at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/infos-communiques/communique/articles/the-2018-official-selection|title=The 2018 Official Selection|work=Cannes|date=12 April 2018 |access-date=12 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/cannes-lineup-includes-new-films-from-spike-lee-jean-luc-godard-1202751300/|title=Cannes Lineup Includes New Films From Spike Lee, Jean-Luc Godard|work=Variety|date=12 April 2018 |access-date=12 April 2018}}

In 2021, Hamaguchi won the Silver Bear award at the Berlinale with his Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy. That same year his Drive My Car won Best Picture awards from the New York Film Critics Circle, Boston Society of Film Critics, and Los Angeles Film Critics Association as well as "Best Motion Picture - Non-English Language" at the Golden Globes. Hamaguchi was nominated for an Oscar for Best Director for Drive My Car, becoming the third Japanese director to accomplish this feat.

In 2023, his film Evil Does Not Exist was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.{{cite web |last1=Lodge |first1=Guy |title=Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone's 'Poor Things' Wins Golden Lion at Venice, Peter Sarsgaard and Cailee Spaeny Take Acting Prizes (Full List of Winners) |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/awards/poor-things-wins-golden-lion-at-venice-film-festival-1235718607/ |website=Variety |access-date=10 September 2023 |date=9 September 2023}} That same year, he released the film Gift, which uses the same footage as Evil Does Not Exist (though with a different story) and is accompanied by a live score.{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Nick |date=25 July 2023 |title=Ryūsuke Hamaguchi Will Debut His Second New Film of 2023, Gift, with a Live Score from Eiko Ishibashi This October |url=https://thefilmstage.com/ryusuke-hamaguchi-will-debut-his-second-new-film-of-2023-gift-with-a-live-score-from-eiko-ishibashi-this-october/ |access-date=27 May 2024 |language=en-US}}

Influences and style

Hamaguchi has referred to himself as "purely a cinephile" and "conventionally in love with Hollywood films." He has been influenced by the works of John Cassavetes.{{cite web|last1=Rizov|first1=Vadim|title="My First Studio, Commercially Made Film": Ryūsuke Hamaguchi on Solaris, Asako I & II and Japanese Film School|url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/107556-ryusuke-hamaguchi-solaris-asako-i-ii-japanese-film-school/#.Yd3rhS-cY_U|access-date=11 January 2022|website=Filmmaker Magazine|date=22 May 2019 }}

In April 2024, he listed his 50 favorite films for LaCinetek.{{Cite web |title=Ryūsuke Hamaguchi's list |url=https://www.lacinetek.com/fr-en/director-list/ryusuke-hamaguchi |access-date=24 June 2024 |website=LaCinetek |language=en-US}} His selection explores various cinema genres and periods, including works from directors such as Robert Bresson, Clint Eastwood, Howard Hawks, Edward Yang, Kenji Mizoguchi and Robert Zemeckis.

= Quotes =

  • "To some extent, all films are fiction and documentary at the same time. I have experienced to make both, and I believe there is no such thing as pure fiction or pure documentary."The Nikkei [*Japan's economic newspaper] (10 October 2021)
  • "The actor is acting in front of the camera. What the camera captures there is a documentary about the actors, because they're doing something which happens only once."
  • (On the multilingual staging in Drive My Car) "In a multilingual staging, of course, they're not understanding the meaning of the words. Instead, the body language and the voice tones is what becomes more important to convey those feelings or the emotional state of the respective actors. It becomes easier to focus and react. That's a nice way I look at it to get a more simple and strong performance."
  • (On the ending of Drive My Car) "Once I talked with a big fan of Drive My Car who said that it really would have been perfect without that ending. (Laugh) Well, I think maybe the reason I ended that way is to make it a bit imperfect." "In terms of the final staging of the play in applause, if I had ended the movie at that point, presumably the audience would want to do a round of applause, and it would almost be like closing of a full circle. But for me that didn't really feel like a satisfying ending. I wanted to do something a bit more disruptive, to leave some sort of break."{{Citation|title=Ryûsuke Hamaguchi on Drive My Car {{!}} NYFF59| date=30 November 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-18rVXCD1f0|language=en|access-date=17 January 2022}}
  • (On the ending of Drive My Car) "I have no any plans of making a sequel, but I was just sort of playing around with things at the end there. One other thing I'd like to say is that the title itself also might give a clue to how you can interpret the ending."

Political views

In December 2023, alongside 50 other filmmakers, Hamaguchi signed an open letter published in Libération demanding a ceasefire and an end to the killing of civilians amid the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, and for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to be established for humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages.{{cite news|date=28 December 2023|title=Gaza : des cinéastes du monde entier demandent un cessez-le-feu immédiat|url=https://www.liberation.fr/idees-et-debats/tribunes/gaza-des-cineastes-du-monde-entier-demandent-un-cessez-le-feu-immediat-20231228_WMAUSVJVLFEBNK4ME4XU3ZRU3M/|newspaper=Libération|language=fr|access-date=24 January 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://thefilmstage.com/claire-denis-ryusuke-hamaguchi-kiyoshi-kurosawa-christian-petzold-apichatpong-weerasethakul-more-sign-demand-for-ceasefire-in-gaza/|title=Claire Denis, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Christian Petzold, Apichatpong Weerasethakul & More Sign Demand for Ceasefire in Gaza|last=Newman|first=Nick|date=29 December 2023|website=The Film Stage|access-date=24 January 2024}}{{cite news|date=31 December 2023|title=Directors of cinema sign petition for immediate ceasefire|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-780176|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=24 January 2024}}

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable"
scope="col"| Year

! scope="col"| Title

! scope="col"| Original title

! scope="col"| Director

! scope="col"| Writer

! scope="col" width=5| Length (min)

! scope="col"| Notes

2001

|Go to the Movies

|映画を見に行く

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|8

|Short film

2003

|Like Nothing Happened{{Citation|title=Like Nothing Happened (short version)|url=https://mubi.com/films/like-nothing-happened-short-version|language=en-US|access-date=30 December 2021}}

|何食わぬ顔

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|98

|Short version 43 min

rowspan="2" |2005

|The Beginning

|はじまり

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|13

|Short film

colspan="2" |Friend of the Night

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|44

|Short film

rowspan="2" |2006

|Scent of Memory

|記憶の香り

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

|style="text-align:center"|28

|Short film

Attack

|遊撃

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|17

|Short film

2007

| colspan="2" |Solaris

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|90

|

2008

| colspan="2" |Passion{{Citation|title=Japan Society Film {{!}} Passion|url=https://film.japansociety.org/film/passion/|language=en|access-date=30 December 2021}}

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|115

|Graduation work at The Tokyo University of the Arts

2009

|I Love Thee For Good{{Citation|title=I Love Thee For Good|url=https://mubi.com/films/i-love-thee-for-good|language=en-US|access-date=30 December 2021}}

|永遠に君を愛す

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

|style="text-align:center"|58

|

2010

| colspan="2" |The Depths

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|121

|Co-written by Kôta Ôura

2011

|The Sound of the Waves{{Cite web|title=The Sound of the Waves {{!}} YIDFF 311 Documentary Film Archive|url=http://www.yidff311docs.jp/?post_type=yidff0311&p=538|access-date=30 December 2021|language=ja}}

|東北記録映画三部作　なみのおと

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

|style="text-align:center"|142

|Documentary; co-directed by Ko Sakai

rowspan="5" |2013

|Voices from the Waves - Kesennuma{{Cite web|title=YIDFF: 2013: International Competition|url=https://www.yidff.jp/2013/ic/13ic14-e.html|access-date=30 December 2021|website=www.yidff.jp}}

|東北記録映画三部作　なみのこえ　気仙沼

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

|style="text-align:center"|109

|Documentary; co-directed by Ko Sakai

Voices from the Waves - Shinchi-machi{{Cite web|title=Voices from the Waves Shinchimachi {{!}} YIDFF 311 Documentary Film Archive|url=http://www.yidff311docs.jp/?post_type=yidff0311&p=540|access-date=30 December 2021|language=ja}}

|東北記録映画三部作　なみのこえ　新地町

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

|style="text-align:center"|103

|Documentary; co-directed by Ko Sakai

Storytellers{{Cite web|title=Storytellers {{!}} YIDFF 311 Documentary Film Archive|url=http://www.yidff311docs.jp/?post_type=yidff0311&p=544|access-date=30 December 2021|language=ja}}{{Cite web|title=Storytellers {{!}} Metrograph|url=https://nyc.metrograph.com/film/film/2075/storytellers|access-date=30 December 2021|website=nyc.metrograph.com}}

|東北記録映画三部作　うたうひと

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

|style="text-align:center"|120

|Documentary; co-directed by Ko Sakai

Intimacies{{Cite web|title=Intimacies {{!}} Metrograph|url=https://nyc.metrograph.com/film/film/2065/intimacies|access-date=30 December 2021|website=nyc.metrograph.com}}

|親密さ

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|255

|Short version 136 min

Touching the Skin of Eeriness{{Citation|title=Japan Society Film {{!}} Touching the Skin of Eeriness|url=https://film.japansociety.org/film/touching-the-skin-of-eeriness/|language=en|access-date=30 December 2021}}

|不気味なものの肌に触れる

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

|style="text-align:center"|54

|

2015

|Happy Hour

|ハッピーアワー

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|317

|Co-written by Tadashi Nohara and Tomoyuki Takahashi

2016

|Heaven Is Still Far Away{{Citation|title=Japan Society Film {{!}} Heaven Is Still Far Away|url=https://film.japansociety.org/film/heaven-is-still-far-away/|language=en|access-date=30 December 2021}}

|天国はまだ遠い

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|38

|Short film

2018

|Asako I & II

|寝ても覚めても

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|119

|Co-written by Sachiko Tanaka

2020

|Wife of a Spy

|スパイの妻

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|115

|

rowspan="2" |2021

|Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy

|偶然と想像

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|121

|

Drive My Car

|ドライブ・マイ・カー

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|179

|Co-written by Takamasa Oe

rowspan="2"| 2023

|Evil Does Not Exist

|悪は存在しない

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|106

|

Gift

|ギフト

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

|style="text-align:center"|74

|Created to accompany a live score by Eiko Ishibashi

Awards

class="wikitable sortable"
scope="col"| Year

! scope="col"| Award

! scope="col"| Category

! scope="col"| Nominated work

! scope="col"| Result

! scope="col"| Ref

2015

|Nantes Three Continents Festival

|Le prix du public

|Happy Hour

|{{won}}

|{{Cite web|title=Senses|url=https://www.3continents.com/fr/film/happy-hour/|access-date=17 January 2022|website=Festival des 3 Continents}}

rowspan="11" |2021

|Berlin International Film Festival

|Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize

|Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy

|{{won}}

|{{Cite web|title=Awards & Honours 2021|url=https://www.berlinale.de/en/archive-selection/archive-2021/awards-2021.html|access-date=17 January 2022|website=www.berlinale.de|language=en}}

rowspan="3" |Cannes Film Festival

|Best Screenplay

| rowspan="18" | Drive My Car

|{{won}}

|{{Cite web|date=17 July 2021|title=All the 74th Festival de Cannes Awards|url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/infos-communiques/communique/photos/httpswww.festival-cannes.com/en/festival/actualites/photos/all-the-74th-festival-de-cannes-awards|access-date=17 January 2022|website=Festival de Cannes 2021|language=en}}

FIPRESCI Prize

|{{won}}

|

Prize of the Ecumenical Jury

|{{won}}

|

New York Film Critics Circle

|Best Picture

|{{won}}

|{{Cite web|title=Awards - New York Film Critics Circle - NYFCC|url=https://www.nyfcc.com/awards/|access-date=17 January 2022|language=en-US}}

Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association

|Best International / Foreign Language Film

|{{won}}

|{{Cite web|title=2021 WAFCA Award Winners - The Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA)|url=http://www.wafca.com/awards/index.htm|access-date=17 January 2022|website=www.wafca.com}}

rowspan="3" |Boston Society of Film Critics

|Best Film

|{{won}}

|{{Cite web|date=27 July 2018|title=Current Winners – 2021 Awards|url=https://bostonfilmcritics.org/current-winners/|access-date=17 January 2022|website=Boston Society of Film Critics|language=en}}

Best Director

|{{won}}

|

Best Screenplay

|{{won}}

|

rowspan="2" |Los Angeles Film Critics Association

|Best Picture

|{{won}}

|{{Cite web|last=www.adam-makes-websites.com|first=Adam Jones-|title=Awards - LAFCA|url=http://www.lafca.net/awards.php|access-date=17 January 2022|website=www.lafca.net}}

Best Screenplay

|{{won}}

|

rowspan="7" |2022

| rowspan="4" | Academy Awards

|Best Picture

|{{Nominated}}

|

Best Adapted Screenplay

|{{Nominated}}

|

Best Director

|{{Nominated}}

|

Best International Feature Film

| {{won}}

|

rowspan="3" | National Society of Film Critics Awards

| Best Film

|{{won}}

|rowspan="3"|{{Cite web|title=National Society of Film Critics|url=https://nationalsocietyoffilmcritics.com/|access-date=17 January 2022|website=National Society of Film Critics|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/national-society-of-film-critics-2022-winners-list-1235071481/ |title= National Society of Film Critics 2022 Winners List|first= Abbey |last= White|date=8 January 2022|access-date=8 January 2023 |website= Hollywood Reporter |language=en}}

Best Director

|{{won}}

Best Screenplay

|{{won}}

rowspan="3" |2023

| Asian Film Awards

| Best Director

| {{Nominated}}

| {{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/asian-film-awards-decision-to-leave-leads-nominations-1235212781/ |last=Ntim |first=Zac |title=Asian Film Awards: Decision to Leave And Drive My Car Lead Nominations |date=6 January 2023|access-date=6 January 2023|website=Deadline Hollywood}}

rowspan="2" |Venice International Film Festival

| Golden Lion

| rowspan="2" | Evil Does Not Exist

| {{Nominated}}

|

Grand Jury Prize

| {{won}}

|

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{IMDb name|3152327}}

{{Ryusuke Hamaguchi}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for Ryusuke Hamaguchi

|list =

{{Academy Award Best Foreign Language Film}}

{{Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}

{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director}}

{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay}}

{{Prix du scénario}}

{{Japan Academy Film Prize for Director of the Year}}

{{London Film Critics Circle Award for Screenwriter of the Year}}

{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay}}

{{Mainichi Film Award for Best Director}}

{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director}}

{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay}}

{{Seattle Film Critics Society Award for Best Director}}

{{Seattle Film Critics Society Award for Best Screenplay}}

{{TFCA Award for Best Screenplay}}

{{Yokohama Film Festival Best Director}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamaguchi, Ryusuke}}

Category:1978 births

Category:Living people

Category:Japanese film directors

Category:Japanese screenwriters

Category:People from Kawasaki, Kanagawa

Category:Tokyo University of the Arts alumni

Category:University of Tokyo alumni

Category:Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay winners

Category:Directors of Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award winners