Monday Night Cinema

Monster

(Kaibutsu)

Saori Mugino (Sakura Andô) notices her son Minato (Sōya Kurokawa) is acting strangely. When she’s told Minato is getting bullied by a teacher, she reports it to the school principal. When the school does little to address the situation, Saori grows frustrated. However, there’s a more complicated story here than Saori is privy to - with the full picture revealed as the film revisits the same events from two more perspectives…

Following films made in France and Korea, Hirokazu Kore-eda (Broker, Shoplifters) returns to Japan for this compassionate exploration of childhood turmoil. Monster’s more heart-wrenching scenes are offset by tender, lovingly-realised moments of kindness and hope. The film also features the poignant final score from the esteemed composer Ryuichi Sakamoto.