Mamiya, who receives a sudden breakup notification while discussing marriage plans with his fiancée, collapses. Following a colleague’s recommendation, Mamiya meets a high school student through a dating app and takes her home. While Mamiya is showering, the girl dies. In a state of shock, Mamiya tries to bury the body in the forest, but it disappears. In the midst of the chaos, Mamiya meets a group of individuals who explain that the girl is an influencer and that he can meet her again through the app.
Whale Bones, written by Oe Takamasa, co-screenwriter of Drive My Car (2021), showcases exceptional storytelling that delves into the depths of the public psyche, where people become so immersed that they are willing to sacrifice their lives for peanuts in the digital world. As stated in the prologue, “Small creatures cling to the bones of a whale sunk in the deep sea, absorbing nutrients and flashing like street lights at night. But once they have devoured everything, both the organisms and the light vanish.” Similarly, those who are revered may only shine as remnants through the individuals who revere them. (Ellen Y. D. KIM)