I just... Wow. Easily one of, if not, the most human film I have ever seen. Every word spoken, and unspoken, are among the most realistic portrayals of real people ever put to film. All of their worries, insecurities, unhappinesses, etc. just cry out. I'm in awe.

Every single one of Hamaguchi's films I've seen so far have impressed me beyond words, specifically with how well he writes and understands women.

And don't get me started on how quickly the time flew by. 5 hours and 17 minutes gone in the blink of an eye. Only a master of the craft can do a 40 minute novel reading scene, and elevate it with so much emotion. Every scene here stretches for so much longer than we're used to, yet it allows us to become fully immersed in this group of friends. It allows us to get aquatinted with them, understand their struggles, who they are as people.

An easy favorite. Absolutely loved this. Hamaguchi's opus.

I just... Wow. Easily one of, if not, the most human film I have ever seen. Every word spoken, and unspoken, are among the most realistic portrayals of real people ever put to film. All of their worries, insecurities, unhappinesses, etc. just cry out. I'm in awe.

Every single one of Hamaguchi's films I've seen so far have impressed me beyond words, specifically with how well he writes and understands women.

And don't get me started on how quickly the time flew by. 5 hours and 17 minutes gone in the blink of an eye. Only a master of the craft can do a 40 minute novel reading scene, and elevate it with so much emotion. Every scene here stretches for so much longer than we're used to, yet it allows us to become fully immersed in this group of friends. It allows us to get aquatinted with them, understand their struggles, who they are as people.

An easy favorite. Absolutely loved this. Hamaguchi's opus.

Wow

Wow

A 5 hour meditation on these women's lives.

If you asked Erik just a couple years ago if they would watch a film over 4 hours they would have said no way.

A 5 hour meditation on these women's lives.

If you asked Erik just a couple years ago if they would watch a film over 4 hours they would have said no way.

A 5 hour meditation on these women's lives.

If you asked Erik just a couple years ago if they would watch a film over 4 hours they would have said no way.

A 5 hour meditation on these women's lives.

If you asked Erik just a couple years ago if they would watch a film over 4 hours they would have said no way.

5 hours and 17 minutes. 

One of the longest Japanese movies. The longest movie I’ve ever seen.

This was quite the experience, one that I won’t soon forget. You spend so much time with these characters and their respective stories, that by the end of the film you feel like you’ve known them for a long time (more than 5 hours!!). 

The only gripe I have with Happy Hour is that I felt the script stretched some of its scenes needlessly. But I was never bored, though, because Hamaguchi always finds a way to end each scene on a high note.

5 hours and 17 minutes. 

One of the longest Japanese movies. The longest movie I’ve ever seen.

This was quite the experience, one that I won’t soon forget. You spend so much time with these characters and their respective stories, that by the end of the film you feel like you’ve known them for a long time (more than 5 hours!!). 

The only gripe I have with Happy Hour is that I felt the script stretched some of its scenes needlessly. But I was never bored, though, because Hamaguchi always finds a way to end each scene on a high note.