Review: Monster – In the eye of the beholder

Directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu
Starring Sakura Andō, Nagayama Eita, Kurokawa Soya

7.5/10

A single mother (Sakura Andō) fears that her son is a victim of bullying at school. As she tries to level her complaint, she begins to fear that the school will not address the teacher’s behaviour at the centre of the accusation. However, as the film shifts its focus to said teacher (Nagayama Eita), we begin to see a very different story. Yet neither of them has the entire story.

A Rashomon-esque look at youth and an adult’s duty of care, Monster is a tale that becomes more complex and intriguing with each point of view that it shows. In part, the draw of the film is in the puzzle it presents, but it is also so much more. It’s a reminder that perspective can shape our understanding, but it’s not necessarily absolute truth. As such, Monster is a tragedy slowly unfolding, fuelled by fear and miscomprehensions, and told by a master of social drama.

Each segment is held together by a sterling performance by the actor that’s the principal focus. The first act, helmed by Sakura Andō (Godzilla Minus One), is particularly riveting due to her performance, allowing director Kore-eda Hirokazu (Shoplifters) to set the stakes. Here we can see her struggles with the school’s formalised response to her complaint and her frustration as she strives to do the best for her son. Characteristically of Kore-eda’s work, Sakura is given space to express a subtle nuance in her acting, one capable of pulling at the heart strings of any viewer.

Uncharacteristically for Kore-eda, this is a script that he didn’t pen, the first since his debut film. This makes Monster an odd film for the director, but in a pleasant rather than disruptive way. The tempo of the Sakamoto Yuji script is slightly faster, and the dialogue is a little more dense than Kore-eda’s normally languid pace, but not by a huge amount. Monster fits well with his existing body of work and acts as a fitting send-off to composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, who provides his final score with this film.

Monster is never what audiences expect it to be, and it is an immensely rewarding journey because of this. It’s another solid and thought-provoking outing from a master of the craft.

DAVID O’CONNELL

Monster plays at UWA’s Somerville Auditorium from Monday, February 5 to Sunday, February 11, 2024. For more information and to buy tickets head to perthfestival.com.au