TLDR;
"Symbol" is a mind-bending film that follows two seemingly unrelated storylines: a man trapped in a bizarre white room filled with phallic buttons and a Mexican wrestler facing a career crisis. The man in the white room discovers that pressing these buttons influences events in the real world, specifically affecting the wrestler's life. As the film progresses, the man learns to control these events, eventually ascending to a god-like status.
- A man in pajamas wakes up in a white room with phallic buttons that control events in the real world.
- A Mexican wrestler, Escargot Man, faces a career crisis and is unknowingly affected by the man's actions.
- The man in the white room learns to control the buttons, influencing events on Earth and eventually ascending to a god-like status.
The White Room [0:10]
A Japanese man in colorful pajamas awakens in a stark white room devoid of doors, windows, or a visible ceiling. He discovers phallic protuberances on the walls that act as buttons. Pressing these buttons triggers bizarre events, such as the appearance of giggling baby angels and a variety of random objects, from toothbrushes to vases. The man experiments with the buttons, learning that each one produces a specific object or effect. He becomes frustrated when he can't get soy sauce for his sushi and later struggles to find the sixth volume of a manga.
Finding the Door [2:24]
The man discovers a hidden door behind a section of the wall, but he struggles to identify the correct button to open it. He tries various methods to keep the button pressed, including using a vase filled with water and sushi, but nothing works. After a nap, he finds a rope and attempts to swing to the door, but it's locked. He accidentally kicks the wall, revealing a key, but faces the challenge of keeping both the key and the door accessible simultaneously.
The Combination [5:13]
The man uses a plunger to swing and grab the key, successfully unlocking the door, only to find a second lock requiring a three-number combination. He realizes that the combination is painted on the forehead of the African Tribesman who appears when a specific button is pressed. He repeats the swinging process three times to input the numbers, but gets trapped between the closing wall and the door.
Hallway and New Room [6:50]
Devastated, the man remembers the fun he had with the objects he got from the buttons. He discovers a fake wall and escapes into a mysterious hallway, eventually reaching another room. This room is similar to the first, but instead of baby angels, there are adult ones, and their members serve as buttons. This new phase is known as "Practice".
Escargot Man [7:35]
In Mexico, Antonio's family is concerned about his father, Escargot Man, a wrestler who is acting withdrawn. Antonio is bullied at school for betting on his father. During Escargot Man's wrestling match, the man in the white room presses a button, causing Escargot Man to magically extend his neck and knock out his opponents. The man continues to experiment with the buttons, affecting events around the world.
Ascension [9:30]
The man in the room notices that there is no ceiling and decides to climb the walls using the member buttons. Each button he touches triggers events on Earth, both big and small. As he climbs higher, the effects become more complex, involving both nature and humanity. Eventually, he reaches the top, floats like the angels, and embraces his role as a god, intentionally choosing humanity's biggest hits. He enters a glowing portal that leads him to the final room.
The Final Room [10:18]
The final room has continents on its walls and a huge member button. The man is about to press it, signifying the "Future".
