2006年法国安锡（Annecy）国际动画电影节上，本片被评为“动画的世纪•100部作品”第25名。

　　以制造花盆为业的工匠专心致志工作时，遭遇一支庞大的手，强迫他为它制作一个雕像，工匠拒绝听命，将该手赶出门外，然而这支手是赶不走的，它无处不在，除了门窗，它还可以通过电话 、电视机和报纸将命令传达。最终，工匠屈服，可是必须受其严格控制呆在一个巨大的笼子里展开工作，而一旦踏进该笼子，就再难出去。

A man lives with his family in a small community. He is seen as a deviant, abnormal person by society.

A lonely old potter saves the life of a young woman. She is grateful to him, but does not return the love he feels for her. However she feels obligated to marry him. In time, her former boyfriend finds her and takes a job working with the potter until he can convince her to run away with him.