Review | Cannes 2026: All of a Sudden movie review – Ryusuke Hamaguchi wows with Paris-set drama

Inspired by a collection of correspondence between philosopher Makiko Miyano and anthropologist Maho Isono about human mortality, All of a Sudden revolves around the budding friendship between French nursing-home manager Marie-Lou (Virginie Efira) and Japanese theatre director Mari (Tao Okamoto).

Marie-Lou runs the Garden of Freedom, where she advocates a new way of attending to her elderly charges. Dubbed “Humanitude”, the approach demands carers be more delicate with the residents, which translates to a more time-consuming process that senior staff members dismiss offhand as impractical and unethical.

Frustrated by the pushback, Marie-Lou heads off to watch a play directed by Mari, having met the director in a chance encounter in a park earlier in the day.