Hirokazu Kore-eda's 'Sheep in the Box' Earns 3.5-Minute Cannes Ovation
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Hirokazu Kore-eda’s sci-fi drama “Sheep in the Box,” about a grieving couple adopting a humanoid son, premiered in competition at Cannes to a 3.5-minute standing ovation.
- The film marks Kore-eda’s return to Cannes since his 2023 Best Screenplay-winning “Monster” and features stars Ayase Haruka, Yamamoto Daigo, and Kuwaki Rimu.
- Set in near-future Japan, the movie explores themes of parenthood and grief, representing a genre shift for Kore-eda, known for intimate domestic dramas like “Shoplifters” and “Broker.”
- Kore-eda has a distinguished Cannes history with seven films selected, winning multiple awards including the Palme d’Or for “Shoplifters” and prizes for “Nobody Knows,” “Like Father, Like Son,” “Broker,” and “Monster.”
- The premiere’s enthusiastic reception included notable applause from actor James Franco, highlighting the film’s warm but measured audience response.