“Who’s the monster?”
It’s a question that comes up frequently in the latest film from the great Kore-eda Hirokazu (Shoplifters, Broker) though the answers are far from definitive. Winner of the Best Screenplay Award at Cannes, Monster is a masterpiece of shifting perspectives that surprises from beginning to end. Scripted by Sakamoto Yuji, the film is an artfully constructed, achingly compassionate tale that features the final score from Oscar winner Ryuichi Sakamoto (The Last Emperor) whose minimal, haunting piano adds immeasurably to the film.
When her young son Minato starts to behave strangely, his mother feels that there is something wrong. Discovering that a teacher is responsible, she storms into the school demanding to know what’s going on. But as the story unfolds through the eyes of mother, teacher and child, the truth gradually emerges. Gently devastating in its compassion, Monster is a masterpiece of shifting perspectives that surprises to the end.
The films critical reception has been nothing short of rapturous, making it one the best-reviewed films of 2023:
“It poetically shows the power of perspective. So well-observed, nuanced, and compassionately told.” – NPR
“One of the films that gave me the most to think about this year.” – Filmweek
“Monster is one of the finest films of the year, and its structure — like its circle of characters — carries secrets that can only be unraveled through patience and empathy.” – The New York Times
“If possible, watch Monster more than once.” – The New Yorker