Plot: A man wanders around Tokyo. He hides in a cardboard box and observes the world around him. He feels invisible and untouchable, the only real person in a world of fakers. That is until he becomes the target of a peculiar general and his uncertified doctor, who are both fascinated by the box man. They want to take the box man's place, yet they believe there can only be one such a being. It's the start of a strategic cat-and-mouse game between the three men. They get so wrapped up in their little obsession that they fail to see the bigger picture.
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September 28, 2024
Gakuryu Ishii is back with one of his most puzzling films to date, an adaptation of Kobo Abe's novel by the same name. It feels like a culmination of his other work. The Box Man is not the most narrative film, though there is a relatively simple plot running underneath. It's not the main focus of the film though. Ishii cares more about the philosophical aspects and the mood. The presentation and performances are on point, but it's the unique experience that makes this worth your time.