Hirokazu Kore-eda's latest film, "Sheep in the Box," premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and grapples with themes of grief and AI. The story centers on Otone and Kensuke, a married couple whose seven-year-old son, Kakeru, died two years prior. They are offered a free promotional trial by a company named REbirth, which specializes in creating generative AI humanoid replicas of deceased loved ones. The film introduces a heart-shaped package containing a hologram of a luna moth, the logo of REbirth, leading the Komotos to adopt an AI version of their son.
While the premise, reminiscent of films like Spielberg's "A.I. Artificial Intelligence," offers potential for deep emotional exploration, critics note that the film often lacks dramatic nuance. Instead of delving into the inherent conflicts between grieving humans and an unemotional AI, Kore-eda reportedly "dawdles" without finding much substance, leading to a "dullish midsection." Some reviews suggest the film is "emotionally stunted" and that its "rose-colored ethos" about the future overshadows the pain experienced by the protagonists, making it a "limp sci-fi fable."
Despite the intriguing concept, the film is described as "muddled" and "scattershot," with a script that struggles to fully develop its themes. Kensuke, the father, initially views the AI Kakeru as a "glorified Roomba," while Otone teaches him gardening. Although the AI Kakeru gains agency throughout the movie, some critics felt the film never fully established his identity. Despite these criticisms, NEON acquired the rights for release in the US, UK, and Australia, recognizing a certain "heart and charm" in Kore-eda's approach to the subject.
