Aaron Ploof
Hirokasu Koreeda’s latest, Sheep in a Box, is another A.I. movie that explores metaphysical concepts through the relationship between humanity and their robot companions. Much like the Black Mirror episode “Be Right Back”, this particular story explores what happens when a mourning individual decides to adopt a robot as a replacement for their loved one. Only this time around, the story isn’t horrifying, and the bond is between a mother and father and their son. While Sheep in a Box does have some interesting ideas and is heartwarming overall, it is also a slog to watch. The film fails to engage on a strong emotional level, rendering its storyline unemotionally ineffective.
The film’s first mistake is robbing us of the impact of Otone (Haruka Ayase) and Kensuke Komoto (Daigo Yamamoto) losing their child and the fallout that follows. While setting the starting action two years after the incident isn’t necessarily a fault, this choice leaves the film feeling emotionally muted. As audience members, we want to be in the same headspace as the characters, and while Otone does look at pictures of her deceased son now and then, we never get a full-on sense of just how much of an impact the incident has had on her soul. Kensuke responds to the incident by suppressing his grief, so we get barely any emotion from him. This makes for a rather flat beginning to the film, as it fails to engage us with its characters and plot.
When Otone and Kensuke finally adopt their Kakeru (Rimu Kuwaki) replacement robot, one would expect the film’s action to ramp up. Unfortunately, most subsequent scenes are slice-of-life episodes, with a slow, almost non-existent buildup of tension. As Kakeru creates an emotional bond with his mother, Kensuke reacts negatively to the idea of having a robot replace his son.
Both of these characters’ journeys change trajectory throughout the film. Otone starts to distance herself from Kakeru due to interference from her own mother, Nobuyo Nishimura (Kimiko Yo), and her friend. Meanwhile, Kensuke grows closer to the robot, using him as a way of opening the floodgates of his grief.
While this is going on, the Kakeru robot is going on his own journey of self-discovery. The title of the film, Sheep in a Box, refers to the book The Little Prince and an incident that takes place within it. The box covers up the sheep, making it impossible to know whether it is actually inside. The point of the story is that believing in what’s inside is most important. In this way, a soul resides within the robot, as well as within the grieving parents of Kakeru. The Kakeru robots’ own self-discovery furthers this theme.
Other major themes involve friendship and the life and soul within nature. Kensuke believes there are souls within trees, and that nature inherently supports itself through its interlocking parts. Kakeru’s robot eventually gains friends, and they support one another in their journey towards freedom and independence from the humans that created them.
Both Ayase and Yamamoto capture their characters’ journeys and emotional states well, but we only get to see their acting abilities a few times throughout the film. This is mainly because most scenes are, as mentioned, slice-of-life episodes. When Otone and Kensuke’s relationship is on edge, though, the two leads truly deliver.
Rimu Kuwaki is sweet as the robot Kakeru. His presence is calming, both for his friends and his adoptive family. He welcomes them readily, even though we know he will soon move on from this household. He becomes the emotional bedrock for both the mother and father figure, and as he matures, they learn to truly let go of their son.
That’s the thing with this film. There is truly a heartwarming and sweet story hidden underneath it all, but the way it is delivered makes for a slow, excruciating watch. It has a lot of wisdom to impart, but it doesn’t make itself nearly entertaining enough to engage its audience and earn their acceptance of its message. There are many films that have told the A.I. story with more impact than this one.
