‘The Box Man,’ a film adaptation of Kobo Abe’s novel of the same title, will open in theaters nationwide on Friday, August 23, and a poster visual and trailer have been unveiled.
Kobo Abe’s masterpiece ‘The Box Man,’ published in 1973, is regarded as one of his representative works, with claims that “had he not died suddenly, he would have received the Nobel Prize in Literature.” Due to its complex structure and intricate content, adapting it into film was deemed challenging. Despite attempts by Hollywood directors and others to acquire the film rights, they were not granted permission by Abe’s side. Subsequently, Abe himself entrusted the adaptation to Gakuryu Ishii, known for works like ’Crazy Thunder Road,’ then known as Sogo Ishii. Although production was confirmed in 1997, the project collapsed on the eve of filming, remaining a phantom venture.
In 2024, the 100th anniversary of Abe’s birth, Ishii, who never gave up, directed the film and made it a reality. The lead role will be played by Masatoshi Nagase, who was also set to star in the film in 1997. The film also stars Koichi Sato, who, like Nagase, will appear in the film for the first time in 27 years, as well as Tadanobu Asano and Nana Shiromoto.
The film was officially entered in the “Berlinale Special” section of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival held in Germany in February, where it had its world premiere, and will also be entered in “JAPAN CUTS 2024” to be held in New York, USA, in July. The film adaptation of Abe’s novel, which has readers all over the world, is attracting attention from abroad.
The released poster visual depicts a disturbing cardboard-covered box man standing up in the city and staring at us through a peephole. The trailer gives us a glimpse of the mysterious Hakon Otoko’s life and activities, and also shows his struggle with the fake Hakon Otoko and his bargaining with a mysterious woman.
‘The Box Man’
Cast: Masatoshi Nagase, Tadanobu Asano, Ayana Shiromoto / Koichi Sato, Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Yuko Nakamura, Yota Kawase
Director: Gakuryu Ishii Original Story: Kobo Abe “Hakotoko” (Shinchosha)
Screenplay: Kiyotaka Inakaki, Gakuryu Ishii
Producer: Keisuke Konishi, Tomohiko Seki
Production: “Hakotoko” Film Partners
Production Manager/Distribution: Happinet Phantom Studio
Production Production: Cogito Works
PG12
ⓒ2024 The Box Man Film Partners
