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The Box Man
The Box Man
	Theatrical release poster
Kanji	箱男
Literal meaning	Box Man
Romanization	Hako Otoko
Directed by	Gakuryū Ishii
Screenplay by	Kiyotaka Inagaki; Gakuryu Ishii;
Based on	The Box Man; by Kōbō Abe
Produced by	Keisuke Konishi; Tomohiko Seki;
Starring	Masatoshi Nagase; Tadanobu Asano; Koichi Sato;
Cinematography	Hideho Urata
Edited by	Banri Nagase
Music by	Michiaki Katsumoto
Production; companies	Happinet Phantom Studios; cogitoworks;
Distributed by	Happinet Phantom Studios
Release date	17 February 2024 (Berlinale);
Running time	120 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese

The Box Man (Japanese: 箱男) is a 2024 Japanese drama film directed by Gakuryū Ishii. The film is adaptation of 1973 eponymous novel by Japanese author Kōbō Abe. It is surreal story in which a cardboard box becomes the perfect shell for men who want to withdraw from society, and gaze without being seen.^[1]

It was selected in the Berlinale Special at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 17 February 2024.^[2]

Synopsis

In the bustling streets of Tokyo, a peculiar man dons a cardboard box over his head. Through a small peephole, he observes the world and diligently records his observations in a notebook. The photographer, known as "Myself" encounters this enigmatic figure and becomes captivated by his unconventional existence. Inspired, Myself embarks on a similar journey, aiming to become a "Box Man" like the mysterious stranger. However, the path is fraught with challenges: a deceptive doctor, a cunning military man, and an alluring woman who tempts him. Can Myself achieve his dream of fully embracing the box man's identity?

Cast

Masatoshi Nagase as "Myself"
Tadanobu Asano as Fake Doctor
Koichi Sato as General
Ayana Shiramoto as Yoko
Yūko Nakamura as Detective
Kiyohiko Shibukawa as Badge-wearing Beggar

Production

In 1997, Ishii obtained the consent of the author Kōbō Abe to make film on his novel The Box Man. In 2024, coincidentally the 100th anniversary of Kobo Abe's birth, Gakuryu Ishii finally made the film adaptation of the novel. Masatoshi Nagase, who was chosen to play "Myself" 27 years ago is in the lead role. Koichi Sato was also chosen to appear 27 years ago is cast now.^[3]^[4] The film went into production in Hamburg/ Studio Bendestorf/ Germany in 1997 . Funding collapsed so that 'The Boxman' with its current release has a total of 27 years timeline from script to screen.

The film is produced by Happinet Phantom Studios and Cogitoworks, with Happinet Phantom Studios also handling the distribution in Japan. Filming began in the summer of 2023 in Japan.^[5]

Release

The Box Man had its world premiere on 17 February 2024, as part of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, in Berlinale Special.^[2]^[6]^[7]

Reception

Lida Bach reviewing in Movie Break rated the film 6.5/10 and wrote, "A box, far from being a dead end, is an entrance to another world, so Gakuryū Ishii draws the audience of his Kafkaesque adaptation of Kōbō Abe's underground classic into a psychological labyrinth of fetish, fixation and voyeurism and integrates them into the surreal scenario as observers in their own cinema box."^[8]

References

^ "『箱男』第74回ベルリン国際映画祭Berlinale Special部門正式招待決定！" [“Hakoo” has been officially invited to the 74th Berlin International Film Festival Berlinale Special section!]. Cinema Factory (in Japanese). 16 January 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
^ ^a ^b Abbatescianni, Davide (16 January 2024). "Berlin announces a raft of new titles for its Berlinale Special and Shorts". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
^ "映画『箱男』安部公房の同名小説を実写化、主演・永瀬正敏が"ダンボールを被った箱男"に" [The movie “Hakoo Otoko” is a live-action adaptation of Kobo Abe’s novel of the same name, starring Masatoshi Nagase as a “box man wearing a cardboard box”]. Fashion Press (in Japanese). 9 February 2024. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
^ "永瀬正敏「20数年の思いこめて」安部公房さん原作映画「箱男」主演共演は浅野忠信、佐藤浩市" [Masatoshi Nagase "20 years of thoughts" Starring in the movie "Hakoo" based on Kobo Abe Co-stars Tadanobu Asano and Koichi Sato]. Nikkan Sports News (in Korean). 17 May 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
^ Rosser, Michael (17 May 2023). "Gakuryu Ishii to direct adaptation of 'The Box Man', cast revealed (exclusive)". ScreenDaily. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
^ Dalton, Ben (15 January 2024). "Berlinale adds Korean action film 'The Roundup: Punishment', 'Love Lies Bleeding' with Kristen Stewart to Special strand". ScreenDaily. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
^ "The Box Man". Berlinale. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
^ Lida Bach (19 February 2024). "The Box Man". Movie Break (in German). Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.