The Calamari Wrestler

The Calamari Wrestler is a 2004 Japanese film by director Minoru Kawasaki, starring Kana Ishida and Osamu Nishimura.

Plot

The plot revolves around a professional wrestler who, after developing a terminal illness, becomes a giant squid-like creature. As a giant squid, he must battle to reclaim his former life both inside and outside the ring.

Cast

Kana Ishida as Miyako
Osamu Nishimura as Kanichi Iwata/The Calamari Wrestler
Akira Nogami as Koji Taguchi/The Octopus Wrestler
Hirohisa Nakata as Godozan/The Squilla Boxer
Miho Shiraishi as Sister
Yoshihiro Takayama as himself
Hariken Ryu as Calamari Wrestler's suit actor

Reception

Jeannett Catsoulis of The New York Times described the film as goofy and bizarre "yet surprisingly coherent" with "a good-natured charm." Catsoulis commented on the themes of the film noting a "convincing parallel between the anxieties of post-World War II Japan and what the film calls the "utter chaos" of the country today."