Hirokazu Kore-eda’s New Film Explores Grief and Technology

In the latest film by acclaimed Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, a grieving couple turns to technology to recreate what they have lost. “Sheep in the Box,” premiering in U.S. theaters on Friday, follows a married couple whose son has passed away. They commission a humanoid that resembles him to cope with their grief.

The film’s title is inspired by “The Little Prince,” the children’s book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. In that tale, a sheep is imagined hidden inside a box, suggesting that life’s most precious elements can be intangible and sustained through unseen connections.

This family drama, set in the near future, debuted at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Kore-eda explained to The Associated Press that the film explores how a couple attempts to redefine their relationship with their child, echoing themes he has previously explored. Born in Tokyo in 1962, Kore-eda began his career directing documentaries after graduating from Waseda University. He often writes, directs, and edits his films, which is an extensive process, but allows him comprehensive control.

His 2013 film, “Like Father, Like Son,” a poignant story of fatherhood that revolves around babies switched at birth, won the Jury Prize at Cannes. The 2018 film “Shoplifters,” which won the Palme d’Or and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, depicted a poverty-stricken family partly surviving through shoplifting. In 2019, Kore-eda directed the French film “The Truth” with actors Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche, and in 2022, he directed the Korean film “Broker,” featuring Song Kang-ho, who won Best Actor at Cannes.

Despite the demanding nature of filmmaking, Kore-eda is known for creating enjoyable sets and is a vocal opponent of on-set harassment. In Japan’s industry where long hours and low pay are common, Kore-eda’s approach is unusual. Anyone harassing others on his sets faces immediate removal from the production.

Kore-eda’s films often feature children as lead characters, adding to the complexities of production. His 2004 film “Nobody Knows” portrayed children living without adult supervision, struggling for basic necessities. This film launched Yuya Yagira’s career; Yagira won Best Actor at Cannes at age 14. “Sheep in the Box” showcases a compelling performance by child actor Rimu Kuwaki, who debuts by portraying a robot.

Although children are prominent in his films, Kore-eda asserts he doesn’t intentionally prioritize them. He appreciates portraying the adult world from a child’s perspective. Kore-eda acknowledges the significant responsibility of being among the first adults that child actors might encounter outside of home and school. He hopes they remember the professionalism and enjoyment on set.

Despite tackling serious topics, Kore-eda remains approachable and cheerful. In response to a question once posed to Japanese director Akira Kurosawa about the essence of filmmaking, Kore-eda humorously mirrored Kurosawa’s response before adding his own. For him, movies started as a hobby and became his life’s work. He feels fortunate that his passion evolved into his career.