Symbol (Shinboru)

Symbol is a sublime feat of surreal comic fantasy from cult Japanese filmmaker Hitoshi Matsumoto, whose debut Big Man Japan is also showing at LIFF25. A man wakes up and finds himself mysteriously trapped in an empty, white rectangular room, wearing clownish bright yellow polka dot pyjamas. His attempts to solve the puzzle and escape are classic slapstick. Meanwhile, in Mexico, masked wrestler Escargot Man prepares for an important match. As the imprisoned man appears closer to escape and Escargot Man steps into the ring, Matsumoto amplifies the suspenseful and otherworldly atmosphere.