The Contestant is a documentary film directed by Clair Titley following the Japanese reality show that live streamed participant Tomoaki Hamatsu aka Nasubi. It premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival before making its way to Hulu in May 2024.

In 1998, budding comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu auditions for the popular Japanese reality Susunu! Denpa Shōnen and their new segment “A Life In Prizes.” Tomoaki also known as Nasubi is thrown naked into an apartment where he must use magazines to win sweepstakes prizes including food, clothing, bedding, and everything in between. At first, he seems to enjoy it, but as he goes without nutrition, clothing, and basic human contact, his grip on reality. What is worse, he has no idea that he is being livestreamed for all of Japan and, later, the whole world is watching.

As a documentary, it was well-filmed. They let Hamatsu tell his own story while also interviewing his family members, a BBC journalist who was there, experts, and Toshio Tsuchiya, the producer behind the whole show. They establish the story, tell us who Hamatsu is, and allow him to explain the trauma of being isolated in those rooms for so long. I found that it adequately broke down the story and the effects it had on all the people involved.

What is sad about this is that Tsuchiya has no guilt over torturing Hamatsu for so long. He almost seems gleeful at the torment that he put his contestant through and that was downright creepy. The entertainment industry, no matter the country, is full of deplorable producers, directors, anchors, and celebrities who will harm others for fame and fortune. This documentary puts a spotlight on this.

Hamatsu is a very brave man. He went through all of that and tried to capitalize on his fame, with varying degrees of success. What stands out to me is that he also used his fame to help Japan. After earthquakes and other disasters, Hamatsu rallied support, especially for his hometown. That gives this story a happy ending on this tale, a rarity for this type of documentary.

Check out the trailer below:

PARENTAL CONCERNS: Disturbing images, Nudity, Cruel behavior

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