Coming off an impressive opening at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, having competed for the Palme d’Or and was honored with the Queer Palm. Hirokazu Koreeda’s “Monster” hopes to bring its clever, immersive storytelling to audiences worldwide.
“Monster” follows Saori, a single mother, and her 11-year-old son, Minato. Saori, worried by her son’s strange behavior decides to visit his school for answers, only to find the culprit to be her son’s teacher and his verbal abuse & physical intimidation. After raising concerns and being met with a complicit school board, Saori becomes disillusioned and angry as the truth gradually emerges through the eyes of the mother, teacher, and child.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Tokyo’s bustling urban landscape, this film weaves a spellbinding narrative that delves into the intricate web of human emotions, and the increasing difficulty of discerning truth in the face of a flood of ceaseless information.