🎬 Title: Monster (怪物)Release Year: 2023 / Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda / Runtime: 126 min

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (My Rating: 4/5)

Synopsis

Through three perspectives—mother, teacher, and child—the film unravels a tragic misunderstanding that reveals deeper truths about identity, empathy, and love.

Review

Kore-eda crafts a layered narrative structure reminiscent of Rashomon, blending subtle performances with a delicate score by Ryuichi Sakamoto. The film’s shifting perspectives invite the audience to reconsider truth and bias.

Highlights

• Multi-perspective narrative (Rashomon effect)
• Subtle and moving performances (Ando Sakura, Nagayama Eita, Kurokawa Soya)
• Final scenes with Sakamoto’s score are deeply emotional

Lowlights

• Non-linear storytelling may confuse some viewers
• Pacing feels slow in the second act

Verdict

A deeply humanistic tale that challenges perception and stirs empathy.

Credits

Cast: Ando Sakura, Nagayama Eita, Kurokawa Soya
Writer: Yuji Sakamoto
Music: Ryuichi Sakamoto