SHEEP IN THE BOX

Directed by

Hirokazu Kore-eda

Japan 2026 126 MIN

Synopsis

In the near future, architect Otone and her husband Kensuke are still grieving the death of their young son. Two years after their loss, they agree to welcome into their home an advanced humanoid created in the exact appearance and voice of the child they lost. Otone embraces the new presence with immediate affection, while Kensuke remains uneasy and emotionally distant. As the rhythms of family life slowly begin again, their very different responses to the humanoid bring buried grief and unresolved tensions to the surface. At the same time, the artificial child begins developing connections and experiences of his own. Through this unusual family story, the film explores mourning, memory, technology, imagination, and the question of what truly transforms a group of individuals into a family.

Gallery

Hirokazu Kore-eda

Hirokazu Kore-eda is a Japanese director, screenwriter, editor, and producer, born in Tokyo in 1962. He began his career directing documentaries for television before moving into feature filmmaking. His films include After Life (1998), Nobody Knows (2004), Still Walking (2008), and Like Father, Like Son (2013), which won the Jury Prize at Cannes. He achieved his greatest international recognition with Shoplifters (2018), winner of the Palme d’Or. His later films include Broker (2022) and Monster (2023). Kore-eda is celebrated for his sensitive observation of family relationships, childhood, loss, memory, and the different ways in which people create emotional bonds beyond conventional definitions of family.

Credits

Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Screenplay: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Cinematography: Ryuto Kondo
Editing: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Music: Yuta Bandoh
Sound Design: Kazuhiko Tomita
Cast: Haruka Ayase, Daigo, Rimu Kuwaki, Nana Seino, Kanichiro, Hinata Hiiragi, Akihiro Kakuta, Kayo Noro, Mari Hoshino, Ayumu Nakajima, Kimiko Yo, Min Tanaka
Producers: Kaoru Matsuzaki, Megumi Banse (Fuji Television Network, GAGA Corporation, TOHO, AOI Pro.)