

Shell and Joint
Synopsis
Nitobe and Sakamoto are childhood friends who now work at the front desk of a capsule hotel. Nitobe has a particular fondness for philosophy and crustaceans. Sakamoto, meanwhile, is fixated on suicide. The capsule hotel draws a variety of guests, including a Finnish mother who has lost her child, a fugitive woman, and a researcher studying Daphnia. None of their lives ever intersect. They exist, but never cross, like cells in a capsule hotel. The themes of life and death are explored through a fragmentary view of the characters’ lives.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Release History & Theatrical Window
Moscow International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Isamu Hirabayashi
- Screenplay & Story
- Isamu Hirabayashi
- Original Score
- Takashi Watanabe
- Original Title
- Shell and Joint
- Country of Origin
- Japan
- Spoken Languages
- Finnish, Japanese
- Runtime
- 2h 34m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Isamu Hirabayashi
Isamu Hirabayashi
Takashi Watanabe
Isamu Hirabayashi
Isamu Hirabayashi
Madoka Katsumata
Department Leadership Roster
Isamu Hirabayashi
Director
Isamu Hirabayashi
Screenplay
Isamu Hirabayashi
Editor
Takashi Watanabe
Original Music Composer
Madoka Katsumata
Producer
Isamu Hirabayashi
Director of Photography
Sayaka Takahashi
Costume Design
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Shell and Joint.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Movie Sex & Nudity Severe
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Frequently Asked Questions About Shell and Joint
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Shell and Joint about?
Nitobe and Sakamoto are childhood friends who now work at the front desk of a capsule hotel. Nitobe has a particular fondness for philosophy and crustaceans. Sakamoto, meanwhile, is fixated on suicide. The capsule hotel draws a variety of guests, including a Finnish mother who has lost her child, a fugitive woman, and a researcher studying Daphnia. None of their lives ever intersect. They exist, but never cross, like cells in a capsule hotel. The themes of life and death are explored through a fragmentary view of the characters’ lives.
Who directed Shell and Joint?
Shell and Joint was directed by Isamu Hirabayashi.
Who stars in Shell and Joint?
The principal cast of Shell and Joint includes Mariko Tsutsui, Keisuke Horibe, Aiko Sato, Hiromi Kitagawa, Koharu Kusumi.
When was Shell and Joint released and how long is it?
Shell and Joint was released in 2019 with a total runtime of 2h 34m.
Who composed the musical score for Shell and Joint?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Shell and Joint was composed by Takashi Watanabe.
