A Trailer That Stings Like a Memory
Boom. Just like that, Chie Hayakawa drops the first trailer for Renoir—and if you're not misty-eyed by the end, check your pulse. This isn't just another coming-of-age flick; it's a quiet gut-punch wrapped in late-'80s nostalgia. And yeah, the comparisons to Tokyo Story? They're earned.
Why This Feels Like Ozu—But With a Twist
Hayakawa's Renoir follows 11-year-old Fuki (newcomer Yui Suzuki, a revelation) as she navigates a summer of fractured family dynamics—her father battling illness, her mother buried in work. The trailer's lingering shots of empty rooms and half-spoken grief echo Ozu's poetic stillness. But here's the twist: Hayakawa injects raw, childlike wonder into the melancholy. Fuki's wide-eyed gaze doesn't just observe adult pain—it absorbs it.
“A summer of an 11-year-old touching the loneliness & pain of imperfect adults.”
That tagline? Chef's kiss. This isn't trauma porn; it's resilience in motion.
The Hidden Weapon: Yui Suzuki
Casting an unknown as Fuki was a gamble. But Suzuki's performance—equal parts innocence and eerie wisdom—steals the trailer. Watch the way she stares at her parents, like she's decoding their sadness. It's the kind of naturalism that makes you forget she's acting. (Cannes Best Actress nod incoming? Bet on it.)
Hayakawa's Quiet Rebellion
After Plan 75—a dystopian heartbreaker about euthanasia—Hayakawa could've gone darker. Instead, she pivots to intimate realism. The trailer's late-'80s setting isn't just aesthetic; it's a sly critique of Japan's bubble-era disillusionment. No flashy cars or neon here—just a kid learning that “sadness” is part of growing up.
Mark Your Calendars
Renoir premieres in Cannes' Main Competition this May, with a Japan release June 20. No global dates yet, but trust me—this'll be the indie darling of 2025.
If this trailer's any indication, Renoir won't just be a film. It'll be a feeling you can't shake.
