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Kore-eda's “Sheep in the Box” Unveils AI-Son Clone at Cannes

5/18/2026

50 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Kore-eda Premieres

Hirokazu Kore-eda premiered “Sheep in the Box” at Cannes on May 17, 2026.
The plot follows Otone and Kensuke Komoto renting a humanoid replica of their deceased son from REBirth.
Kore-eda said a Chinese AI service that recreates dead people inspired the film, raising ethical questions.
Screen Daily gave the film a 1.4/4 rating.
The film opens in theaters on June 10, 2026 after Kore-eda’s Korea visit on June 4-5.

Summary

Kakeru Reveals Pain

Japan operates about 3,000 AI humanoid robot children, as noted in the film’s background.
Technicians programmed robot Kakeru with happy memories selected by Otote and Kensuke, omitting basic needs and sad moments.
Otote treats Kakeru as her son while Kensuke refuses to call it “dad” and demands “sir”.
Relatives react uneasily, treating the robot as a resurrected cousin.
Kakeru later reveals memories of pain, heightening the family conflict.

Summary

REbirth Sends Drone

REbirth delivered a drone-borne advertisement to the Komotos offering a trial of a child-sized humanoid replica.
The android runs generative AI trained exclusively on the family’s happy photos and videos.
If it leaves the thirty-meter radius, a GPS signal shuts it down.
The child unit returns to REbirth headquarters for maintenance while similar humanoids already operate in neighboring homes.

History

Historical Context

Sony’s Computer Science Laboratory began robot work in 1994, leading to the AIBO pet released on 11 May 1999; the ERS-210 alone sold over 65,000 units before Sony halted the line in 2006. After a 2017 revival, the legacy of consumer-robot companionship resurfaces in Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Cannes-premiered “Sheep in the Box,” reigniting ethical debates.

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Kore-eda Premieres

Hirokazu Kore-eda premiered “Sheep in the Box” at Cannes on May 17, 2026.
The plot follows Otone and Kensuke Komoto renting a humanoid replica of their deceased son from REBirth.
Kore-eda said a Chinese AI service that recreates dead people inspired the film, raising ethical questions.
Screen Daily gave the film a 1.4/4 rating.
The film opens in theaters on June 10, 2026 after Kore-eda’s Korea visit on June 4-5.

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