Oh Lucy! (2018)
A lonely Tokyo office worker dons a blonde wig, adopts a new name, and chases her English teacher across the Pacific in this darkly funny, deeply human story.
Oh Lucy! - Movie Information
- Original Title: オー・ルーシー！
- Release Year: 2018
- Directed by: Atsuko Hirayanagi
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 1h 35m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese, English
- Release Date (Theatrical): January 31, 2018 (France), June 28, 2018 (South Korea - 15)
- Alternative Titles: Ô Rûshî! (JP), 噢，露西 (HK)
- Production Companies: Matchgirl Pictures, Gloria Sanchez Productions, Meridian Content, NHK
- Production Countries: Japan, United States of America
Oh Lucy! - Plot
A lonely, chain-smoking office lady in Tokyo falls for her teacher when she decides to take English lessons. When her teacher disappears, she sets out on a journey to find him.
Oh Lucy! - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see where Setsuko's unexpected journey begins:
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Oh Lucy! - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Atsuko Hirayanagi
Main Cast
- Shinobu Terajima
- Soseki Yamatoya
- Miyu Yagyu
- Kayano Masuyama
- Miyoko Yamaguchi
- Hajime Inoue
- Suzuka Ohgo
- Shioli Kutsuna
- Stefanie Arianne
- Takaaki Satô
Writers
- Boris Frumin
- Atsuko Hirayanagi
Producers
- Atsuko Hirayanagi
- Yukie Kito
- Han West
- Jessica Elbaum
Oh Lucy! - FAQs
What is Oh Lucy! about?
Oh Lucy! centers on Setsuko, a lonely, chain-smoking Tokyo office worker who reinvents herself as 'Lucy' when she enrolls in an unconventional English class. She falls hard for her American teacher John, and when he suddenly vanishes, she impulsively follows him to California—setting off a bittersweet, darkly comic journey of self-discovery.
Why does Setsuko call herself Lucy?
Her English teacher John assigns each student an American name and a blonde wig as part of his unconventional teaching method. Setsuko becomes 'Lucy'—and the persona takes on a life of its own, unlocking a freer, more impulsive side of her that her buttoned-up Tokyo life had kept buried for years.
Where can you stream Oh Lucy!?
Oh Lucy! is available to stream for free on Tubi TV, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, and Fawesome. You can also rent or buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Spectrum On Demand offers it as a rental too.
Does Oh Lucy! have a happy ending?
The ending is more bittersweet than conventionally happy. Setsuko's California adventure doesn't deliver the romance she dreamed of, but it does force a reckoning with her loneliness and identity. The film closes on a quietly hopeful note—suggesting that the journey itself, however messy, was exactly what she needed.
Who are the main actors in Oh Lucy!?
Shinobu Terajima leads the film as Setsuko, delivering a raw, award-worthy performance. Josh Hartnett plays her charming English teacher John, and Koji Yakusho appears as Takeshi. Shioli Kutsuna and Kaho Minami round out the strong supporting cast.
Is Oh Lucy! based on a short film?
Yes! Director Atsuko Hirayanagi first told this story as a short film in 2014, which won the Jury Prize at Cannes' Cinéfondation. The feature expands that original premise considerably, deepening Setsuko's character and extending her journey all the way from Tokyo to Southern California.
How was Oh Lucy! received by critics?
Critics responded warmly, praising Shinobu Terajima's fearless central performance and Hirayanagi's assured feature debut. The film earned strong notices for its tonal balance—blending dark humor with genuine emotional depth—and was highlighted as a standout at the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard section.
Where was Oh Lucy! filmed?
The film splits its locations between Tokyo, Japan—capturing the grey, fluorescent-lit world of Setsuko's office life—and Southern California, where the sun-drenched sprawl of Anaheim and its surroundings provide a jarring, almost surreal contrast to everything she left behind.
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