All of a Sudden (original title: Soudain) is a 2026 drama film directed by Ryūsuke Hamaguchi. The film stars Virginie Efira, Tao Okamoto, Kyōzō Nagatsuka, Kodai Kurosaki, and Jean-Charles Clichet.
This long drama tells the story of Marie-Lou, a woman who runs a care home near Paris. Her life changes when she meets Mari, a Japanese theater director who is facing a serious illness. The movie explores care, dignity, friendship, life, and human connection.
The film is Hamaguchi’s first French-language movie. It was filmed in France and Japan, with locations in Paris, the Paris suburbs, and Kyoto Prefecture.
All of a Sudden follows Marie-Lou Fontaine, who runs a care home for elderly people near Paris. She wants to give her residents better and more respectful care by using the Humanitude method. Her work becomes more meaningful after she meets Mari Morisaki, a Japanese theater director who is living with a terminal illness.
Their friendship connects two different cultures and leads Marie-Lou to think more deeply about life, care, dignity, and humanity.
The movie was released in Japan on June 19, 2026, and in France on August 12, 2026. It is scheduled for a US theatrical release on November 25, 2026.
The film is being released in the United States by Neon. Diaphana Distribution handles the French release, while Bitters End handles the Japanese release.
Table of Contents
When and Where Was All of a Sudden Filmed?
| Film Name | All of a Sudden (Soudain) |
|---|---|
| Genres | Drama |
| Filming Locations | Paris and the Paris suburbs, France; Kyoto Prefecture, Japan |
| Filming Dates | June 30 to September 6, 2025 |
| Cinematography by | Alan Guichaoua |
| Release Date | November 25, 2026 (US) |
Filming for All of a Sudden took place from June 30 to September 6, 2025. The production filmed in Paris and its suburbs in France before moving to Kyoto Prefecture in Japan for the final week of filming.
The French locations were mostly away from the famous tourist areas of central Paris. This helped director Ryūsuke Hamaguchi show a more natural side of the city. The production also used a real care home in the Paris suburbs for many of the nursing home scenes.
Filming for All of a Sudden began on June 30, 2025, and finished on September 6, 2025.
The production filmed the French part of the story first and then moved to Japan. The final week of filming took place in Kyoto Prefecture.
The movie was also filmed in story order, which helped the cast follow the development of the characters and their relationships.
📍Care Home in the Paris Suburbs, France
A real care facility for elderly people in the Paris suburbs was used as the main location for the care home in All of a Sudden. In the movie, Marie-Lou runs a care home called Garden of Freedom. The production spent a long time filming inside the facility, making it an important part of the story.
Some of the real residents and staff members also took part in the filming. Some appeared as extras, while others watched the production from the facility. The exact name and town of the care home have not been made public.
📍Parc de la Butte du Chapeau Rouge, Paris
Parc de la Butte du Chapeau Rouge in Paris was another filming location for All of a Sudden. The park is in the 19th arrondissement, on the northeastern side of Paris.
The location was used for the scene where Marie-Lou and Mari first meet. Its open lawns, hillside setting, and views toward the suburbs gave the scene a calm and natural look.
📍Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand, Paris
The production also filmed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, François-Mitterrand site, in the 13th arrondissement of Paris.
The large terrace of the library was used for a walking-and-talking scene between Marie-Lou and Mari. The location is known for its four large glass towers and its wide wooden terrace overlooking the Seine.
📍Théâtre 13, Paris
Some of the movie’s theater scenes were filmed at Théâtre 13 in Paris. This location fits the story because Mari is a theater director.
The theater is located in the 13th arrondissement and is known for presenting contemporary and emerging theater productions. It helped give the movie’s theater scenes a realistic setting.
📍Banks of the Seine, Paris
The production also filmed along the banks of the Seine in Paris. The riverside location was used for a conversation scene involving the main characters.
The Seine adds a familiar Paris setting while still keeping the movie’s focus on the characters and their conversations.
📍Wachi Observation Point, Kyotamba, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
For the Japan section of All of a Sudden, filming moved to the countryside of Kyoto Prefecture. One confirmed location is an observation point in the Wachi area of Kyotamba Town.
The area is surrounded by forests and mountain views. A log where the two lead actresses sit in the movie is still at the location. The quiet countryside gives the Japan scenes a very different feel from the busy Paris locations.
📍Nantan, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Filming also took place in Nantan City in Kyoto Prefecture. Nantan is close to Kyotamba and forms part of the rural setting shown during the Japan section of the movie.
The exact filming spot in Nantan has not been made public, but the city was part of the production’s Kyoto-area shoot.
📍Murmur Coffee Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
The production also filmed at murmur coffee kyoto in Kyoto City. The small café is located in Shimogyo Ward, near the Takase River.
The café’s location in the city helped add a more everyday Kyoto setting to the movie. It is also within walking distance of areas near Kyoto Station and the Kamo River.
All of a Sudden Behind the Scenes
The production of All of a Sudden had an interesting connection with the real care home used in the movie. Because the crew stayed at the facility for a long time, some of the real residents and caregivers became part of the production.
Director Ryūsuke Hamaguchi also wanted the people working on the film to understand the care method shown in the story. Caregivers and technicians involved in the production received training in the Humanitude method, which focuses on respectful and humane care for elderly people.
The French shoot was mainly handled by a local French crew, while a Japanese crew joined the production for the Kyoto part. Some of Hamaguchi’s longtime collaborators also worked on the Japanese shoot.
The film was shot by cinematographer Alan Guichaoua, who helped create the movie’s quiet and natural visual style.
To make your search for All of a Sudden filming locations even more interesting, we shared a behind-the-scenes photo here.
The film stars and fans also shared some behind-the-scenes glimpses on their social media accounts, Instagram.
For more information about other shooting locations, stay tuned to this post. We will add more…
Is There Any Trailer Available for All of a Sudden?
Yes, an official trailer for All of a Sudden is available. The trailer gives viewers a look at Marie-Lou’s care home, her meeting with Mari, and the emotional story that connects the two women.
The movie All of a Sudden is scheduled to be released in the United States on November 25, 2026, by Neon.
FAQs
Q1: Where was All of a Sudden filmed?
A1: All of a Sudden was filmed in Paris and the Paris suburbs in France, as well as Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Locations include Parc de la Butte du Chapeau Rouge, the Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand, Théâtre 13, Kyotamba, Nantan, and Kyoto City.
Q2: Was the care home in All of a Sudden a real place?
A2: Yes. All of a Sudden was filmed inside a real care facility for elderly people in the Paris suburbs. Some real residents and staff members also took part in the filming.
Q3: Where was the first meeting between Marie-Lou and Mari filmed?
A3: The first meeting between Marie-Lou and Mari was filmed at Parc de la Butte du Chapeau Rouge in Paris’s 19th arrondissement.
Q4: When was All of a Sudden filmed?
A4: Filming for All of a Sudden took place from June 30 to September 6, 2025. The final week of filming was in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.
Q5: Was All of a Sudden filmed in Kyoto?
A5: Yes. The Japan scenes were filmed in Kyoto Prefecture, including Kyotamba, Nantan, and Kyoto City.
Q6: Who directed All of a Sudden?
A6: Ryūsuke Hamaguchi directed All of a Sudden. It is his first French-language film.
Q7: When will All of a Sudden be released?
A7: All of a Sudden was released in Japan on June 19, 2026, and in France on August 12, 2026. The movie is scheduled to open in US theaters on November 25, 2026.
Q8: Can I visit the filming locations of All of a Sudden?
A8: Yes, several locations used for All of a Sudden are public places, including Parc de la Butte du Chapeau Rouge, the Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand, Théâtre 13, and parts of Kyoto. The real care facility used in the film has not been publicly identified.
All of a Sudden takes viewers from the Paris suburbs to Kyoto, using real places to tell its quiet and emotional story. The movie was filmed at a real elderly care facility, public locations across Paris, and several locations in Kyoto Prefecture.
With Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto leading the cast and Ryūsuke Hamaguchi behind the camera, the film brings together French and Japanese settings in a story about care, friendship, dignity, and humanity.
If you enjoy learning about movie locations, All of a Sudden offers many interesting places to discover in both France and Japan.
Discover more from A2Z Filming Location
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.