MONSTER
Returning to his native Japan after two international productions (PFF28’s THE TRUTH and PFF31’s BROKER), revered director Hirokazu Kore-eda has created perhaps his most daring work yet, a riveting social drama that employs a complex, Rashomon-like plot to unravel the mystery of what transpired between two troubled boys. When her adolescent son Minato (Sōya Kurokawa) begins exhibiting alarming behavior, widowed mom Saori (Sakura Andô, PFF27’s SHOPLIFTERS) is incensed to find out that he’s being verbally and physically abused by his teacher Hori (Eita Nagayama). But when Saori finally manages to get through to the school’s administration, Hori counters with a shocking accusation: That it’s Minato who’s been bullying another boy named Eri (Hinata Hiiragi). From there, what begins as a seemingly simple story of a mother’s quest for justice takes on unexpected new dimensions as Kore-eda doubles back to retell the story from different angles, gradually building to a dazzlingly multifaceted look at two boys whose story speaks volumes about society’s capacity for cruelty and compassion.
CAST: Sakura Andô, Eita Nagayama, Soya Kurokawa, Hinata Hiiragi
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