When a young boy displays increasingly worrying behaviour at school and home, his mother decides to discuss this with his teachers. It becomes apparent that the school could be the source of the problems. Or maybe it’s someone else. As this mystery unfolds it reveals a delicate web of compassion and embattlement. We screened the Director’s previous films Our Little Sister in 2017, and Shoplifters in 2019.

Mark says:
“Monster won Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival, the story is told from 3 different points of view and it all takes place in contemporary Japan; but I was still surprised to feel so connected to these characters. I remember the world as an eleven year old boy, an exciting, confusing and wonderful place. Not understanding stuff or not being able to say how you feel didn’t matter, until the adults got involved…”

Review:
“Lovingly detailed and accented by an aching score from Ryuichi Sakamoto, who died in March, “Monster” is one of the finest films of the year, and its structure — like its circle of characters — carries secrets that can only be unraveled through patience and empathy. Put a different way: It’s easy to call someone a monster before you squelch a muddy mile in their shoes.”  Natalia Winkelman, The New York Times