The Contestant — Official Trailer

added: Tue, Apr 9th '24

This is the true-life Truman Show, yet the real story is potentially more unsettling than the fictional film. Check out the official trailer for the forthcoming Hulu original documentary, "The Contestant," which delves into the traumatic story behind one of the most disturbing reality shows ever conceived.

In 1998, amidst the burgeoning era of the reality television craze, a 23-year-old aspiring Japanese comedian named Tomoaki Hamatsu, known as "Nasubi" or "Eggplant," faced an extraordinary challenge. Stripped of clothing and confined to a small apartment, Nasubi endured isolated existence for over a year, aiming to win a substantial cash prize. Unbeknownst to him, his solitary ordeal was televised nationwide as part of an extreme Japanese reality show, garnering immense popularity with audiences tuning in daily to witness his predicament. As Nasubi's struggle unfolded, his mental and emotional deterioration became increasingly apparent, yet ironically, those factors fueled the show's soaring ratings.

Directed by British documentarian Clair Titley and narrated by comedian Fred Armisen, "The Contestant" shines a light on the extreme human degradation and psychological toll inflicted on Nasubi, as well as the unsettling voyeurism of the show's audience, prompting questions about the ethical boundaries of reality TV.

Prepare to be captivated and disturbed by "The Contestant," set to premiere exclusively on Hulu starting May 2nd.

synopsis:
This true story of a Japanese reality TV star left naked in a room for more than a year, tasked with filling out magazine sweepstakes to earn food and clothing, prompts innumerable questions about our culture of oversharing. Before the onslaught of reality television in the West, there was an ominous harbinger in Japan of what was to come in our oversharing-obsessed culture. THE CONTESTANT traces the experience of aspiring comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu, nicknamed Nasubi, who unwittingly became an extreme case study. In 1998, Nasubi thought he was attending an audition when a successful Japanese TV producer, Toshio Tsuchiya, enlisted him to take part in a challenge. Tsuchiya led Nasubi into a room, ordered him to strip naked and left him with a stack of magazines. Nasubi's task was to fill out contest coupons in order to win what he needed to survive -- food, clothing, appliances, etc. -- until he reached the prize goal of one million yen. Although Nasubi could have left at any time, he stayed for months with a fierce determination to complete his mission. He was cut off from all contact with his family and the world except for occasional interactions with Tsuchiya.

What Nasubi didn't realize was that his experiences were being broadcast to over 15 million people in a TV show called Denpa Shonen: A Life in Prizes. Without his knowledge or consent, Nasubi became the most famous television personality in Japan. While parts of Nasubi's infamy have been recounted before on YouTube and This American Life, director Clair Titley and producer Megumi Inman bring a revelatory depth of insight by interviewing Nasubi, Tsuchiya, and others close to them. The filmmakers explore further twists in Nasubi's life after Denpa Shonen to deliver one of the most WTF stories of the year.

directed by Clair Titley

starring Fred Armisen (narrator); Takehiro Hira (Voice of Nasubi's diary)

release date May 2, 2024 (on Hulu)