"Monster" is a 2023 Japanese drama film directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, with a screenplay penned by Yuji Sakamoto. Sakura Andō takes on the lead role, portraying a mother who confronts a teacher upon noticing troubling changes in her son. Premiering at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2023, the film not only competed for the prestigious Palme d'Or but also received acclaim, winning the Queer Palm and Best Screenplay awards. It hit theaters in Japan on June 2, 2023. The movie carries a poignant dedication to the late Ryuichi Sakamoto, who passed away two months before its release; his music features prominently in the film.
Did you know? Koreeda expressed that each character in the film grapples with invisible barriers to some extent. "The mother is confined by societal norms, the teacher by notions of masculinity and the constraints of the school system. Meanwhile, the children inhabit a world shaped by the adults, bearing the impact of the violence inflicted upon them. Despite this, they find a way to break free. It's almost as if the children have moved forward, leaving the adults behind to discover their own self-realization. I aimed for this realization to be a positive one." Read More
Inspired by his viewing of "Mysterious Skin" (2004), a film he holds in high regard as one of the greatest ever made, director Hirokazu Kore-eda aimed to address the issue of homophobic discrimination in his work.
Koreeda expressed that each character in the film grapples with invisible barriers to some extent. "The mother is confined by societal norms, the teacher by notions of masculinity and the constraints of the school system. Meanwhile, the children inhabit a world shaped by the adults, bearing the impact of the violence inflicted upon them. Despite this, they find a way to break free. It's almost as if the children have moved forward, leaving the adults behind to discover their own self-realization. I aimed for this realization to be a positive one."
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