A 7-Year-Old Robot Becomes a Son: 'The Sheep in the Box,' Director Hirokazu Kore-eda Depicts 'Family' in the Age of AI [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

Director 'master' Hirokazu Kore-eda has depicted a story of family in the age of AI. Director Hirokazu Kore-eda presents various narratives by showcasing Japanese families through the lens of humanoid robots.

A press screening of the film 'The Sheep in the Box' was held at Megabox COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 4th. Following the screening, a press conference was held, attended by child actor Riku Kuwaki and director Hirokazu Kore-eda.

The film 'The Sheep in the Box' tells the story of a 7-year-old humanoid robot who enters a home to replace a deceased child, experiencing the joy of finally becoming a family, while also facing the anxiety of possibly being abandoned again. Director Hirokazu Kore-eda, the master behind 'Shoplifters' and 'Monster,' has woven the era's pressing theme of 'AI and humanoid robots' into his own family narrative.

Director Hirokazu Kore-eda said, "I have made films in Korea and have many acquaintances here, so it is a country I hold dear. I haven't been able to visit often due to busy film shoots, but I am happy to be coming to Korea for an early release right after the Japanese premiere, along with Riku Kuwaki."

Continuing, Director Hirokazu Kore-eda said, "This story began two years ago when I heard about a business where generative AI resurrects the dead. I went to Shanghai to meet that person and heard their story; they showed photos and videos of their deceased loved ones from their phone and demonstrated how AI could recreate them. That was the starting point of the film." He added, "I am curious how the audience will receive this story. In the film, everyone goes to the forest, but the adults do not live there; they return. Rather than 'they all lived happily ever after,' I imagined them living with the thought that Kakeru, who was there and then disappeared, is invisible. I wanted to convey that imagination."

Riku Kuwaki said, "This is my first time in Korea. I am happy that I was sent here. What I want to do in Korea is just go around and have fun." When asked about the acting guidance director Kore-eda provided, Kuwaki stated, "The director told me to 'be yourself, be you.' I heard that other directors give instructions and teach acting, but Director Hirokazu Kore-eda told me to be comfortable and be myself."

Continuing, Riku Kuwaki said, "The hotel where I stayed while filming on set was nice and enjoyable. On set, the director played with us a lot, and actors Haruka Ayase and Daigo also played with us a lot. I played a lot with the child actors appearing in the film, and we all played together." To this, Director Hirokazu Kore-eda added, "And sometimes we also filmed," eliciting laughter.

The film shows a family welcoming a 7-year-old robot in place of their deceased son, while simultaneously presenting the image of humanoid robots living in place of the dead in the age of AI, offering much to think about. In particular, the film's final ending stimulates new imagination.

It remains to be seen what resonance the AI within the SF presented by the master director will convey to the audience.

Meanwhile, 'The Sheep in the Box' will be released in theaters nationwide on the 10th.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.