In Monster, the audience will feel a sense of concern due to thetension that boils from the beginning of the film. An outburst evolves into surreal aspects in Director Kore-eda Hirokazu’s Monster. The movie offers an experience in which a portrait of behavior leads the audience into unknown directions on a worried search for answers. The film’s opening scene of a building on fire and children running is an illusion of what the film’s actual problem is. Hirokazu’s direction is based on his audience putting together pieces of the puzzle.

With a vast landscape offered in the surprising introduction, the plot starts with a smooth approach. The film takes place in Japan and introduces us to a mother Saori (played by Sakura Ando) and her son Minato (played by Soya Kurokawa). Minato starts acting in bizarre ways. He cuts his hair shorter, has outbursts at home and at school which causes a concerning and detrimental journey for Saori as a mother. It comes to her attention that his teacher, Mr. Hori (played by Eita Nagayama) may have assaulted him. Saori goes to school and talks with the hierarchy which is not of much use due to strict rules and confidentiality. Slowly, however, the turmoil of Saori, Minato, and Hori begins to go awry.

The film is well paced. It jumps to the conflicts that have occurred and then reverses. It is an experience where it is not easy to put together the pieces of an unfortunate event, but solving the puzzle causes a continued fight for boundaries. Mr. Hori consistently fails to respect people’s wishes and tends to act out. Based upon Saori’s concerns, Mr. Hori’s career starts to be problematic due to his erratic behavior. Minato’s behavior is also a problem. The clashing of personalities in Monster gets to point where hardship is inevitable.

Honesty lies in the depths of Monster. The writing of the film provides context for the set of rules which the teacher follows. Mr. Hori’s personality is impatient and bizarre, and he displays an abusive tone. With frustrations rising for Mr. Hori, the writing continues to be vivid regarding the realistic consequences given the matters which are non-negotiable. Monster offers an unforgettable portrait of the reality of matters that are irreparable.

The film is a poetic experience involving the sensitivities in life. Saori has conflicts with Minato, and Mr. Hori is in a bind due to his behavior The portrait of Minato and what is happening in his mind is visually captivating. With his changing behaviors, the audience is left to worry about everyone associated. There is evidence to explain what is happening, but is it true? Did Mr. Hori hurt Minato? Is Minato dealing with grief after the passing of his father? With the events happening and then reversing, there is a deeper context which is a “monster” in all the characters in the film. The spellbinding writing in Monster creates a monumental maze of questions, realizations, meaning, symbolism, friendship, and disconnect. Three out of four stars.