Director Hirokazu Kore-eda is ramping up excitement among movie fans by releasing the main poster and trailer for his new film, “Sheep in the Box.”
“Sheep in the Box” tells the story of a couple who lost their child, only for a being resembling their dead son to reappear. Moving beyond a simple SF genre, it is known as an emotional drama that delicately portrays loss, reunion, and the meaning of family and love. The film, which explores the relationship between humans and humanoids, has already sparked a huge reaction online following the trailer’s release.
The film’s artistic quality was recognized early on, as it was selected as an official invite for the competition section of the 79th Cannes International Film Festival. Director Hirokazu Kore-eda handled the direction, screenplay, and editing, while actors Ayase Haruka, Daigo (Chidori), and Kuwaki Rimu star in the film.
A humanoid appearing in place of a dead son… a shocking premise sparks buzz
Released 30 days before the premiere, the main poster features Ayase Haruka as the mother, Daigo as the father, and Kuwaki Rimu as the son. Set against a deep green forest, the three looking in the same direction creates a feeling that is both warm and strangely tense.
The phrase “7-year-old humanoid, a story of a new family” on the poster also catches the eye. The shocking premise of a being with the exact face and voice of a deceased son becoming part of the family has piqued the curiosity of movie fans since its reveal.
While the previously released teaser poster focused solely on the humanoid robot “Kakeru,” the main poster brings all three characters together, signaling the start of a full-fledged family story. The expressions of the three characters blend warmth and anxiety, raising expectations for the complex emotional journey the movie will offer.
Director Hirokazu Kore-eda has previously drawn deep empathy by realistically depicting various forms of family in films like “Shoplifters,” “Monster,” “Like Father Like Son,” and “Broker.” In this work, he is expected to expand the meaning of family once more through the new concept of a humanoid.
“Tears just from the trailer”… emotional main trailer hits hard
The main trailer has also received an enthusiastic response. The video captures a family’s life, which had crumbled after losing a child, beginning to move again as a being resembling their dead son enters their world.
While the beginning maintains a peaceful and warm atmosphere, strange cracks and tension gradually seep into the family over time. The emotional shifts the family experiences while living with a humanoid are depicted with great delicacy.
Phrases in the trailer such as “Similar face, similar voice,” “We became parents again,” and “The family’s time begins to move again” leave a deep impression, capturing complex emotions where loss and reunion, trust and doubt intersect.
Netizens reacted with excitement, saying things like, “I’m tearing up just from the premise,” “I can feel Director Kore-eda’s signature sensibility,” “The trailer alone is making me emotional,” and “I think this will be the saddest movie of the year.”
From the Cannes invite… global movie fans’ attention is focused
“Sheep in the Box” will have its world premiere at the 79th Cannes International Film Festival, which opens on May 13 (local time). Director Hirokazu Kore-eda has already established himself as a global master, having been invited to the Cannes Film Festival multiple times.
He has received international acclaim for his delicate portrayal of human relationships in works such as “Distance,” “Nobody Knows,” “Air Doll,” “Our Little Sister,” “After the Storm,” “Shoplifters,” and “Monster.”
This project is drawing attention as it is an original Japanese film from Director Kore-eda in a while. While his previous works highlighted realistic family structures, this film is expected to delve deeper into human loneliness, love, and the essence of family through the unrealistic presence of a humanoid.
“Sheep in the Box” will be released in Japan on May 29, followed by a release for Korean audiences on June 10. There is great interest in what kind of resonance this film will create, as it captures both the joy of a humanoid becoming family and the anxiety of potentially being abandoned again.
