The Chicken
Synopsis
On an unseasonably hot day in November, Hiro, a Japanese immigrant in New York City, decides to butcher a live chicken for dinner. While showing his visiting cousin Kei around, the pair encounter a medical emergency on the street. After they mishandle the situation and end up causing more harm than good, Hiro cannot bring himself to kill the chicken. Throughout, Kei observes his cousin’s new lifestyle as Hiro and his pregnant wife prepare for their move to Chinatown. As the day wears on, Hiro and Kei’s actions highlight how their lives are complicit in the structural violence that surrounds them.
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
Locarno Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Neo Sora
- Screenplay & Story
- Neo Sora
- Original Title
- The Chicken
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- Japanese, English
- Runtime
- 14m
- Production Studios
- Zakkubalan
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Neo Sora
Neo Sora, Naoya Shiga
Bill Kirstein
Albert Tholen, Daniel Witkin
Jane Ji, João Pereira-Webber, Aiko Masubuchi, Kenta Koga, Albert Tholen
Department Leadership Roster
Neo Sora
Director
Albert Tholen
Editor
Jane Ji
Producer
João Pereira-Webber
Producer
Aiko Masubuchi
Producer
Kenta Koga
Producer
Neo Sora
Screenplay
Bill Kirstein
Director of Photography
Jane Ji
Production Design
Albert Tholen
Producer
Jackson Segars
Producer
Heather Yancey
Costume Design
Daniel Witkin
Editor
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Chicken.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Chicken.
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Curated list of New Releases on Criterion (US). Updated frequently. Last updated September 03, 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Chicken
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Chicken about?
On an unseasonably hot day in November, Hiro, a Japanese immigrant in New York City, decides to butcher a live chicken for dinner. While showing his visiting cousin Kei around, the pair encounter a medical emergency on the street. After they mishandle the situation and end up causing more harm than good, Hiro cannot bring himself to kill the chicken. Throughout, Kei observes his cousin’s new lifestyle as Hiro and his pregnant wife prepare for their move to Chinatown. As the day wears on, Hiro and Kei’s actions highlight how their lives are complicit in the structural violence that surrounds them.
Who directed The Chicken?
The Chicken was directed by Neo Sora.
Who stars in The Chicken?
The principal cast of The Chicken includes Junshin Soga, Taiju Nakane, Sandra Maren Schneider, Alan Chen, Jordan Rodriguez.
When was The Chicken released and how long is it?
The Chicken was released in 2020 with a total runtime of 14m.