Kore-eda's 'Sheep in the Box' Gets 3.5‑Min Ovation
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- Sheep in the Box premiered at Cannes competition and earned a 3.5‑minute standing ovation.
- The film follows a grieving couple who adopt a state‑of‑the‑art humanoid infant after their son's death, exploring grief and parenthood.
- Deadline praised the drama as a beautiful, fairy‑tale‑like study of loss that transforms dystopian AI imagery.
- IndieWire called the film an emotionally stilted, derivative riff on AI, suggesting it falls short of Kore‑eda’s usual depth.
- James Franco was among the most enthusiastic applauders, staying on his feet until the director called for the mic.
Why it matters: Kore‑eda's film's 3.5‑minute ovation at Cannes signals strong audience appeal, likely driving higher distribution bids and boosting the market for AI‑themed Japanese cinema, and reinforcing Japan's cultural export profile.
