Monster is a deceptively simple story about growing up and the many misunderstandings that come with it. It’s told through different points of view, a technique that could easily feel gimmicky in the hands of a lesser director. But with director Hirokazu Kore-eda at the helm, it feels natural and inevitable, as if there was no other way to tell this specific story. It’s a masterful mystery, but Monster is less about suspense and answering the whodunnit question than it is about navigating the murky waters of truth and real life. As corny as it sounds, watching Monster is an experience unto itself: you’ll find yourself believing something one moment and dismantling it the next, learning and unlearning in a span of two hours. But as with past Kore-eda films, it’s the story’s heartwarming sensitivity that trumps everything. You’ll likely come for the mystery but stay for its heart.
"If possible, watch “Monster” more than once."
— Anthony Lane
"Not Kore-eda’s most cohesive film, but still a heartfelt and likably earnest one."
— Charles Bramesco
After an outburst at school involving her son, a concerned single mother demands answers, triggering a sequence of deepening suspicion and turmoil.
When her son starts acting strange, Saori demands accountability from a teacher she believes wronged him. But when we see things unfold from multiple perspectives, the bigger picture finally emerges.
The delicate performances by the two young actors, Soya Kurokawa and Hinata Hiiragi.
Vantage Point for people who keep a Letterboxd account.
Oscars
1 win
Berlin
2 wins
Golden Globes
1 nomination
BAFTA
1 nomination
SAG Awards
1 win
Spirit Awards
2 wins, 1 nomination
Nat. Board of Review
1 win
NYFCC
1 nomination
LAFCA
1 nomination
This film broke me. Good recommendation.
Brilliant movie. Stays with you long after.
One of the best Japanese movies I have watched. The tension builds sometines is insane.