MIFF 2025: Happyend
Melbourne International Film Festival 2025 is ongoing and I went to watch my twelfth session (of 12!)
Phew, that was a lot of movies. I can’t wait to do it again next year. Great title to end it on… Happyend
For context: I am a photographer/youtuber that wants to up my cinematography and storytelling, that’s why I’m watching 12 sessions at the film festival PLUS reviewing them here on my blog!
This was the one that I watched with my friends. I kinda convinced my friends to watch one of them with me, haha. To be fair, when I went to Pidgon Street International Film Festival, they said that they would like it. I reckon they would’ve enjoyed some of the short films sessions more… Initially we wanted to watch Exit 8, but that sold out really quickly — I still want to watch it one day! Anyways, here’s my review of Happyend.
Structure
I quite like the opening scene! They established really quickly that these group of friends is diverse, ethnically Korean, Taiwanese, and American. From the appearance, it was clear that Tom is mixed, but they then asked Ming to talk a club bouncer in Mandarin. Then when the police caught them, they revealed that Kou is Korean descent. They then slowly reveal that the group is part of the “music research” club at their school, what a cool club by the way. And also that they are trouble makers… well mostly Yuta.
The timeline is pretty linear and compact, I think the story probably happened in a span of a few weeks? Maybe couple of months. It almost like it ended abruptly with many questions still in my head (and my friends’ too!)
Narrative
This was more “simplistic” than I thought. I liked the themes of standing up against people in power when they are doing the wrong thing. Of course also the theme of friendship. It reminds me of friendships in middle school and high school, and how people grow apart, kinda bitter sweet. However, the thing is, from the synopsis, I expected a bit more twists and turns:
In a dystopian urban landscape where technology is used to curb civil liberties and student rights, a diverse group of teenagers struggle to maintain their long-held friendships.
Doesn’t that Kinda read like it’ll be a bit more thriller-like? It doesn’t help that I just finished watching the new season of Black Mirror, so the word “dystopian” just reminds me of it. Honestly, if I didn’t come in expecting a certain kind of film, I’d enjoy it more. And my friends agreed as well. <Light Spoiler ahead> Moreover, there were multiple indications that an earthquake might happen, and I thought that would be the big turning point in the film — but turns out not so much.
Cinematography
The shots in Happyend were superb! One shot in particular that I liked was when Kou was waiting outside of the school gate. It was a top down shot on an angle, it started off empty with just Kou but then more students came out of the gate, including the person that he was waiting for, and then they walked of together to another direction than the rest of the students. I loved it. And the film was filled with those sort of shots. Just ones that I looked around the whole frame soaking it in and thinking about how they did that. It’s kinda the way I want to film my YouTube videos, so it’s very inspiring. I hope that I can get a copy of the film someday for reference.