Ryūsuke Hamaguchi

Ryūsuke Hamaguchi is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He is known for his naturalistic style and subtle exploration of human relationships. His films often feature long takes and improvisational dialogue, creating a sense of realism and intimacy. Hamaguchi gained international recognition with his film "Happy Hour" (2015), a five-hour-plus drama about four women in their late thirties. He followed this with "Asako I & II" (2018), a romance film exploring the complexities of love and identity. His breakthrough came with "Drive My Car" (2021), which won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film and garnered him a nomination for Best Director. Other notable works include "Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy" (2021) and "Evil Does Not Exist" (2023). Hamaguchi is considered one of the most important contemporary filmmakers in Japanese cinema.