Mini Film Review – Happyend

Yesterday I watched Happyend; and it was very interesting! Directed by Neo Sora, and starring Hayato Kurihara, Yukito Hidaka, and Shina Peng; Happyend is a science fiction drama, about two best friends, who pull a prank on the high school principal, which leads to the school installing a high tech security system! Happyend is an interesting premise, in a familiar setting, as it takes place in a near future Tokyo, which has ramped up it’s surveillance with the use of AI, to keep an eye on it’s civillians. Yes it’s a totalitarian state premise, but instead of having a group of teenagers unwillingly be made into heores that bring the whole thing to it’s knees (like say Akira), instead the film chooses to focus on the lives of a group of teenagers, who instead try to live in this world, and rebel in their own ways. So they pull pranks on near to hand authority figures, whilst also trying their hardest to have as much fun as possible, whilst also growing up. Then there’s the additional jeopardy, of the group splitting up soon, as they each progress through the system, but in different paths, either from going to college, leaving the country, or other alternatives. There is very a much a science fiction like element to the film, but it’s mostly used to build the world, where-as the story is more focussed on drama, through the different views of five very close friends. And it’s through it’s change in the direction from the norm, that makes Happyend a very interesting film. Plus if you like techno/electronic music, you’re in for a real treat!