Not to be confused with what some may potentially see as a horror or blood-curdling thriller, Kore-eda Hirokazu's critically acclaimed Rashmon inspired tale that takes place across three different viewpoints is a unique and effective examination of humanity and individuals circumstances that stands out as one of 2023's most memorable foreign offerings.
A winner of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival Best Screenplay award, Hirokazu's tale of single mother Saori, school teacher Hori and young boy Minato is a thorough examination of a set of circumstances that have lead Saori to believe that something horrifically amiss has occurred at Minato's school, with all signs pointing towards potential misdeeds at the hands of Hori who appears to show little remorse for the wrongs Saori suspects he is responsible for.
Starting out from Sakura Andô's Saori's POV as the film starts with a stunning shot of a burning mutli-storey building not far from her home she shares with Minato after her husband passed away years prior, Monster then gives equal amount of attention to Eita Nagayama's Hori and then Soya Kurokawa's Minato as we start to explore key incidents from the lives of each of these characters from their own perspectives and understandings.
Tackling the films weighty subject matters from this angle allows us and Hirokazu to wade through a raft of different emotions and ponderings and discovering just who or what's truly the "monster" of this film's narrative is one that hits hard when the truth becomes apparent with Monster morphing into a whole different type of beast than one might initially expect, showcasing the masterful skill Hirokazu has over his medium as his film unfolds.
Key to this beautifully shot and scored films success, thanks to D. O. P Ryûto Kondô and a moving score from the late/great Ryuichi Sakamoto, is the wonderful performances of its core cast that also includes a standout turn from young Hinata Hiiragi as the integral Yori, with all performers on top of their profession bringing heart, soul and humanity to their realistically flawed characters who all have reasonings behind their feelings and actions that come to light in a fluent and powerful way over Monster's two hour runtime.
Another impressive addition to Hirokazu's resume that concludes in an unforgettable and touching way, Monster is further reason to regard the talented filmmaker as one of the best directors operating in world cinema today.
Final Say -
Not the film one might expect and not to be viewed as a stereotypical thriller or mystery, Monster is nonetheless a powerful piece of human focussed storytelling that is worthy of being regarded as one of 2023's best dramatic features.
4 brass instruments out of 5
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)
A winner of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival Best Screenplay award, Hirokazu's tale of single mother Saori, school teacher Hori and young boy Minato is a thorough examination of a set of circumstances that have lead Saori to believe that something horrifically amiss has occurred at Minato's school, with all signs pointing towards potential misdeeds at the hands of Hori who appears to show little remorse for the wrongs Saori suspects he is responsible for.
Starting out from Sakura Andô's Saori's POV as the film starts with a stunning shot of a burning mutli-storey building not far from her home she shares with Minato after her husband passed away years prior, Monster then gives equal amount of attention to Eita Nagayama's Hori and then Soya Kurokawa's Minato as we start to explore key incidents from the lives of each of these characters from their own perspectives and understandings.
Tackling the films weighty subject matters from this angle allows us and Hirokazu to wade through a raft of different emotions and ponderings and discovering just who or what's truly the "monster" of this film's narrative is one that hits hard when the truth becomes apparent with Monster morphing into a whole different type of beast than one might initially expect, showcasing the masterful skill Hirokazu has over his medium as his film unfolds.
Key to this beautifully shot and scored films success, thanks to D. O. P Ryûto Kondô and a moving score from the late/great Ryuichi Sakamoto, is the wonderful performances of its core cast that also includes a standout turn from young Hinata Hiiragi as the integral Yori, with all performers on top of their profession bringing heart, soul and humanity to their realistically flawed characters who all have reasonings behind their feelings and actions that come to light in a fluent and powerful way over Monster's two hour runtime.
Another impressive addition to Hirokazu's resume that concludes in an unforgettable and touching way, Monster is further reason to regard the talented filmmaker as one of the best directors operating in world cinema today.
Final Say -
Not the film one might expect and not to be viewed as a stereotypical thriller or mystery, Monster is nonetheless a powerful piece of human focussed storytelling that is worthy of being regarded as one of 2023's best dramatic features.
4 brass instruments out of 5
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)