Monster (2023)
Original title: Kaibutsu
Hirokazu Kore-eda, the director of Monster, skilfully tells a tale that explores the nature of truth and perception in a small Japanese town. The protagonist of this emotional maze is Minato, a young child who begins acting strangely and worries his mother because she thinks something is off at his school. As different perspectives on the same event emerge, Kore-eda delicately crafts a narrative that challenges our assumptions about innocence, guilt, and society’s role in shaping them.
The plot unravels like a multi-layered puzzle, allowing us to glimpse events through the eyes of different characters, each with their own biases and motives. Monster touches on the complexities of bullying, parent-child relationships, and the struggle to discern right from wrong. Although Kore-eda frequently addresses family themes, in this film he also addresses societal ones. The movie’s tone oscillates between tense and tender, leaving us alternating between outrage and empathy.
Most of the performances are excellent, with Sakura Andô (the mother) and Eita Nagayama (the teacher) taking the lead. They deliver nuanced portrayals that give emotional heft to scenes involving institutional pressure and maternal anxiety. However, the child actors occasionally struggle to fully embody the nuances required for their roles, leading to some stiff moments that detract from the emotional weight of certain scenes. Still, when the characters’ internal battles are laid bare, the results are often compelling.
The directing of Kore-eda displays his distinctive sense of understated drama, favouring realistic lighting and deliberate camera movements that allow the actors to really shine. A poignant score by Ryuichi Sakamoto deepens the tension, while the muted colour palette reinforces the film’s reflective tone. Kore-eda’s use of long shots provides a sense of isolation, underscoring the social fragmentation at the heart of the story.
The editing, however, could be tighter. The movie sometimes drags, especially in the second act when the layers of perspective start to take away from the story’s momentum. A shorter movie might have given the storytelling a stronger thrust.
Monster is a complex study in perspective that, in the end, makes for a satisfying but occasionally tedious watch. The nuanced storytelling, strong performances from the leads, and Kore-eda’s deft hand at weaving emotional tapestries elevate the movie above a standard whodunit. While it doesn’t always sustain its grip, its poignant themes and layered narrative make it worth the journey. Though it falls short of its lofty goals, Monster is a thought-provoking watch for fans of slow-burning dramas that subvert stereotypes.