In his latest cinematic offering, acclaimed Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda delves into the profound depths of grief and technology, presenting a poignant narrative where a bereaved couple seeks solace in a recreated likeness of their lost child.

His new film, "Sheep in the Box," is set to open in U.S. theaters this Friday, promising a deeply emotional exploration of loss and connection.

The film centers on a married couple grappling with the death of their son, leading them to commission a humanoid crafted in his exact image. The title itself is a nod to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic children’s book, "The Little Prince," where a sheep is imagined hidden within a box.

For Kore-eda, this reference underscores the idea that life’s most invaluable aspects are often intangible, sustained by unseen bonds. This family drama, set in the not-too-distant future, first captivated audiences at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.

Kore-eda notes that the film’s core themes resonate with his previous works. "It explores how a couple tries to rework their relationship with their child, and so it’s not that different from the stories I’ve explored in my past works," he told The Associated Press.

Born in Tokyo in 1962, Kore-eda embarked on his directorial journey with documentaries after graduating from Waseda University. He is renowned for his comprehensive involvement in his projects, typically writing, directing, and editing his films, a demanding process that grants him near-total creative control.

His filmography boasts several critically acclaimed features, including the 2013 "Like Father, Like Son," a heartbreaking examination of fatherhood and identity that won the Jury Prize at Cannes. His 2018 masterpiece, "Shoplifters," which depicted a poverty-stricken family surviving through petty theft, earned the prestigious Palme d’Or and an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

More recently, he directed French luminaries Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche in 2019’s "The Truth," and Korean actors, including Cannes Best Actor winner Song Kang-ho, in 2022’s "Broker."

Despite the rigorous demands of his productions, Kore-eda is celebrated for fostering a positive and enjoyable working environment on his sets. He has been a long-standing and outspoken advocate against harassment within the industry, a stance that particularly stands out in a field often criticized for punishing hours and low pay, especially in Japan. Any individual found engaging in harassment on one of his film sets is immediately removed from the production.

A significant aspect of his work involves directing child actors, which adds another layer of responsibility to his benevolent filmmaking approach. His 2004 film "Nobody Knows" famously depicted children living without adult supervision, scrounging for food and lacking basic amenities. That film propelled Yuya Yagira to stardom, who, at just 14, won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival and remains an active actor today. "Sheep in the Box" continues this tradition, featuring a striking performance by child actor Rimu Kuwaki in his feature-film debut as a robot.

Kore-eda, however, denies that children are a necessary element in his filmmaking. Instead, he expresses a preference for exploring the adult world through a child’s perspective. "It’s a heavy responsibility. We may be the first adults besides parents and teachers these children may come in contact with," he explained. "We want them to go home thinking all the adults were hard-working and having fun."

For a filmmaker whose works often tackle such serious themes, Kore-eda is surprisingly disarming and quick to laugh. When a reporter posed the same question she once asked Japanese director Akira Kurosawa — "What is filmmaking for you?" — Kore-eda immediately inquired about Kurosawa’s response. Kurosawa’s answer: "If you take movies away from me, I am left with nothing." Kore-eda playfully pretended to echo this sentiment before offering his own heartfelt definition. "Movies are the only hobby I’ve ever had. That became my job. Thinking about that hobby 24 hours a day became my life and my job," he reflected. "I am so blessed."