The Calamari Wrestler

The Calamari Wrestler (いかレスラー) is a 2004 Japanese film by director Minoru Kawasaki, starring Kana Ishida and Osamu Nishimura.

Plot
The plot revolves around a professional wrestler who, after developing a terminal illness, becomes a giant squid-like creature (Osamu Nishimura). As a giant squid, he must battle to reclaim his former life both inside and outside the ring.

Cast

 * Kana Ishida as Miyako
 * Osamu Nishimura as Kanichi Iwata/The Calamari Wrestler
 * Akira Nogami as Koji Taguchi/The Octopus Wrestler
 * Hirohisa Nakata as Godozan/The Squilla Boxer
 * Miho Shiraishi as Sister
 * Yoshihiro Takayama as himself
 * Hariken Ryu as Calamari Wrestler's suit actor

Reception
Jeannett Catsoulis of The New York Times described the film as goofy and bizarre "yet surprisingly coherent" with "a good-natured charm." Catsoulis commented on the themes of the film noting a "convincing parallel between the anxieties of post-World War II Japan and what the film calls the "utter chaos" of the country today."