Monster (2023)

Is there really a monster or is it just us?

Μonster is being advertised as a Hirokazu Koreeda film and indeed it is directed -splendidly as always- by him. However, the man behind the script is Sakamoto Yuji, the person that wrote Soredemo, Ikite Yuku (Still, Life Goes On) and if you have seen that series, then you know that Monster is not going to be just a good film, but it will stay with you for a while.

I don't think I can explain how good this movie is and honestly I don't want to try nor I should. If you are by chance reading this, let me tell you that it is better to watch this film, without knowing anything about it. Don't watch the trailers, don't read the synopsis, don't even read what kind of awards it earned.

As stated before, directing is magnificent, acting is great from all of the cast involved, with two astounding performances by the two younger actors, portraying Yori and Minato. The music, composed by Sakamoto Ryuichi is heartbreakingly beautiful and it feels so sad and hopeful at the same time.

The plot is magnificently written from beginning to end. Even if at first you may feel that some scenes last too long, they are not just there for the atmosphere. They are important and that is the beauty of the film. Nothing is there just to exist, just to lengthen the movie, just to make the audience feel melancholic, just to make it feel more cinematic. It needs to be there, because it wouldn't work otherwise.

Without giving away anything of importance, I will just say that every detail matters, every character is vital and realistically written. Everyone is so flawedly human, you can't really hate or love them. They are just important, they matter, because they exist. They are so real it kind of makes you ache for the beauty, complexity and ugliness of human nature.

It is a film that is character-driven, slow paced and it truly shows the power of perspective. It deals with so many subjects in a very delicate manner that doesn't feel forced nor preachy. I can't thank myself enough for watching this on the big screen.

I understood how truly beautiful this movie was, when I couldn't stop thinking about it hours after watching it and when I ended up crying with all the little details that have such a huge impact and importance.

Many times, with all these critically acclaimed films, I feel like I am getting forced to like them, to overanalyse them, to convince myself that they are something better than what they actually are -or maybe I don't have the ability to fully understand them-. This is not the case here, though. This is truly an exquisite film. It is better than I ever expected. It is one of those movies that you get to discover something new with every watch. It needs to be watched, because at the end of the day we are all humans and this is a film about us.

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“If it's something only a few people can have, it's not happiness."

Monster (2023) directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda who's very famous both in Japan and internationally for his heart-warming and humane stories. I watched this in theaters and it was one of the best experiences of my life. To think I'd be able to watch Sakura Ando and Nagayama Eita on the big screen is a dream come true for me as I'm a big fan of both of the actors. The screenwriter is again, a famous screenwriter in Japan called Sakamato Yuji . The music composer for this movie was Ryuichi Sakamato and he was an Oscar winner. This is his last work. So you can see how this is a collab of the year and can guess how excited Japanese people were for this, including me as I too am a big fan of these people. The movie actually lives up to the hype.

It's hard to talk about the movie without giving spoilers because it's best to experience the movie without knowing anything about it. But as it's my job to tell you, so I'll try to talk about it in vague terms. The movie is essentially about a single mother who noticed that her son, Minato , who's in middle school has started acting strange suddenly, when asked, it seems to be because of harassment from his homeroom teacher, Mr. Hori . The movie is about her trying to get to the truth to protect her child. But in actuality it's more than that. The story is told from different perspectives and how the truth gets lost because humans always try to protect themselves as their survival instinct so they try to believe in the truth that suits them the most unconsciously. There's no good or bad character in the movie, they are all very flawed, complex and humane . In the end of the day, the movie was about being human, not a monster ( In which all of the characters believe themselves to be the Monster) .

It was just so beautiful, I felt deeply touched by it. It's just a masterpiece. No more words. The only flaw is I felt the ending was a bit abrupt. I wanted a bit more closure but it’s forgivable. You should watch it if you've loved other Koreeda movies! If you're new to his or Japanese movies in general, I suggest this movie is for people who enjoyed character driven stories and portrayal of human emotions. The fan inside me wants to say that everyone should watch this movie at least once as it's essentially about being a human but if you can't digest some disturbing themes like bullying and parental neglect, I'd suggest to not watch, but otherwise I feel it's worth a try for everyone.

My rating: 9.5/10

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and so the monster was me

This film I believe is intended to be watched without spoiling or going into what it is about in depth. Take in all the promotional on the surface and you will get the full viewing experience. I say this because of the promotional materials that lead you in one direction, take it in that direction at first and then go in depth.. which is what I did. So spoilers.

I definitely did not get what I bargained for when I decided to watch this movie. I watched the trailer, read the synopsis, saw the poster, and thought I would get a good scare out of this one. The ratings and reviews are well enough that I thought it would be perplexing, a psychological horror.

The first two-thirds of the movies had me, but in the back of my mind, the answer to the allure and mysterious tones was pretty simple and clear. To put it simply, this movie isn't a slasher or a horror. It is a coming of age queer film beneath two layers.

There are three acts to this movie after the initial setup. With the synopsis, firstly you have a story of a single mother who cares deeply for her child, a devoted and misunderstood teacher, and two kids that have the answers to the overall premise of the film. Minato is the child of the single-mother and is being abused as school, by either a teacher, or something else is at play.... so that is what I thought. I thought there could be anything, even a fifth element that added supernatural. This film was anything but, it was so real and thought-provoking, and in the end I found so many details that clearly show what was really going on the whole entire time.

The third act shows the perspective of Minato, and slowly it shows that instead of an abused boy, you find a boy that is scared of his blossoming but very real feelings for a student of his that was shown to be connected to this mystery within the school. There was no abusive teacher or secret being held by the higher ups, there was a boy who was scared of his feelings, and enough to think of himself as a monster. So in the end he made a lie. This film weaves together several elements to knit it into one final conclusion. Instead of going on about that I'll point out a few details that show how brilliant this film really is.

I must say, I was hesitant to conclude that this film involves two boys that like eachtother, but by the end and looking into the screenplay and its intent, I realize that was the point. Minato was just as scared as his feelings and it brings the question as to why it is seems as sexual when it is innocent love between two people that are the same gender. There is an innocence with Minato and him coming to terms with his feelings for Yori, and it's heartbreaking to witness how scared he really is of them.

You can see this through dialogue, and specifically with scenes where Minato says he is shifting into a monster, and where he is in the MRI scanner, truly scared that it will read his mind and his mom will be aware of his developing feelings. Why is he so scared thought? Yori is why he is scared, he is constantly tormented for his behaviors that don't suggest he likes a girl, he is abused by his father and told he has a pigs brain. Yori's father would rather he act out and be bad, than be an obedient child who is good at school. There is this whole spectrum of what a boy acts like and what they shouldn't.

What got to me was the part where the two boys find a safe space together, and I started thinking about their feelings for eachtoerh when Yori got too close to Minato. Although in the end Minato never wanted Yori to go anywhere, and what was cool are the little details. Minato goes back to the empty safe haven and texts Yori, where Yori says he won't go back because he wants to touch Minato, in the ways where he patted his hair or hugged him, but Minato says he wouldn't mind. I love how the ending doesn't have them fear, and instead they get past the gates of the railroad and are happy and free... there's just a lot to talk about with this one.

it seems that this topic is a taboo and that's why I didn't see it at first, but that is the point behind this film. To have you question why it is seen that way, and why you view an innocent feeling and curiosity as sexual or not normal. There is no romanization between them, the director and screenplay had the intent to share a story of two boys that grew to love eachother and coming to accept in regardless of the heteronormative society they were placed in. Any opposition to that shows the point of the film again and societies failure to accept it.


Below I'l several links that goes over all the details of this film I couldn't go over.


https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueFilm/comments/1761z26/little_details_in_koreedas_monsterkaibutsu_2023/?rdt=39846

https://x.com/wyvernhood/status/1745418419368055276?s=46&t=hWWeyWA1Y9kwJqIT_KVSaw

https://x.com/korokketto/status/1745376701188825596?s=46&t=hWWeyWA1Y9kwJqIT_KVSaw

https://x.com/haeinfleur/status/1744727092586246244?s=46&t=hWWeyWA1Y9kwJqIT_KVSaw

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You'll ache but in the prettiest way possible

Watched it a day ago and I've realized how there's no getting over... I tried writing down how I felt watching it and then I thought for 50 mins but I just couldn't get the right words to describe this movie without doing injustice to it.
This movie healed me in every way possible... and broke me in every way possible. I didn't even realize how torn I was until it all ended and I was there left to take it all in, Halfway through you just don't feel anything and then it all suddenly hit, like a wave. A big one. It all starts making sense and it just ached. Throughout. Cuz of how real it was and simply on how it was portrayed, So beautifully and really, so beautifully but sadly...

The way they showed us the three perspectives. How whenever we were taken through each of them, we discovered smth new and everything made more sense and the realization just kicked in each time...

The way the two actors portrayed their characters, the way their little actions spoke for everything, the way their smiles, their sorrow spoke for everything, the way their laughs made me feel so happy, but sad, and the way the whole movie was carried out. It was everything it could ever be.

The 10 rating on all of them is real . One of the best movies I've ever watched in my whole entire living...Wanting to rewatch just 15 mins in says a lot on how much of an impact this movie had on me, and everyone who watched it in general.

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Masterpiece

I initially watched this movie because of Ando Sakura. I am glad I did it, because it is a masterpiece. The screenplay is really well written, making scenes of the same situation from different point of views be equally thrilling and mesmerizing. The screenwriter was able to reveal bit by bit the details from the perspective of each character in a brilliant manner. From the beginning, you are induced to search for a unique culprit for the whole strange situation. Then, after understanding the story as a whole, you realize the complexity of the plot. Every one has their share of contribution. They unconsciously and unintentionally pressure the children. It is a contradiction, because every character is true to their own sentiments and intentions. Some misunderstandings happen on the way, causing mainly Hori to be unfairly punished.

In the end, the story is about the discoveries of Minato and Yori in a movement towards inside uncovering their sexuality. They ponder if they are wrong to be who they are. This inability to accept themselves and feel accepted by their friends, family, and teachers is the real cause of all the problems. And this is a real problem in today's society. It is really painful and heartbreaking to see such lovely children as Yori and Minato to suffer bullying, and, in the case of Yori, physical violence from his father.

At the same time, their connection is beautiful. They find each other to be the only people who could understand each one's feelings and anxieties. But the thing is... They are only children. Their parents and teachers aren't able to understand and give support, although they really care for them (of course, except for Yori's father). They are loved but not seen as who they are. Instead, they are perceived as idealizations from their surrounding people. The ending was good and symbolic of a freedom in an afterworld without external expectations.

"If it's not everyone, it's not happiness"

P.S.: the acting was reeeeally good!

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you were always normal.

genuinely. how am i supposed to move on with life. i cant begin to describe the extent to which this film has left me damaged

seeing minato walking through stages of confusion, denial, anger and desperation evoked so many emotions and memories buried deep inside me. his story has simultaneously comforted and wounded my inner child.

minatos constant struggle between wanting to accept himself and wanting to be by yoris side against his fear of judgement and his fear of being abnormal leads him to self destruction. the contentment he feels when he is with yori against the confusion he feels when yori is too close to him. the happiness he feels while watching yori being himself against the helplessness he feels while watching yori being abused. the build up of conflicting emotions results in minato not being able to manage his anger. he destroys things because he cant destroy people. minatos anger is directed towards yoris bullies, yoris dad and the world but mostly himself. he cant come to accept who he truly is and he is unable to protect the person he loves. minato destroys things because he cant destroy himself.

but what matters most is despite his own inner turmoil, minato never once tries to change yori. he never makes him feel any less human. "you were always normal," minato accepts yori wholeheartedly and loves yori for exactly who he is. despite everything, he escapes from the shackles of the real monster; a twisted society and attains freedom with the one he loves. where there is love there is life!! everyone deserves to be surrounded by love without judgement and everyone deserves to love with freedom.

anyways yeah best film ever made. its split into three acts, the story itself plays out in a confusing back and forth timeline but i think thats what makes it so great. ur left putting the pieces together but when everything does come together it will blow ur mind! the details are insanely genius from start to finish, i pick up on a new detail every day. ALSO, the music!!! the final scene with the score by ryuichi sakamoto was heartbreakingly beautiful, it truly tied the film together :,)

i reco this film to everyone !!

p.s do not watch this movie every single day it will change the trajectory of your life

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i’m gonna die

so many details i don’t think any amount of rewatching could make it 100% clear. it’s tense and scary during the adults povs. i don’t think ive ever been so antsy in my entire life watching a movie. but then suddenly that all goes away when the kids pov hit. i think the entire time i was expecting an answer to everything that was going on and while we saw all the povs, we never really got one, and i feel like it’s kinda the point? even the ending is as ambiguous as it was during the start. but while the movie started with little to no hope and just that overwhelming feeling that this is going to go badly, the ending is filled with so much hope and happiness. but i still sobbed so so hard thinking that it was sad. but it wasn’t really though.

i think i expected the worst to happen because that’s what every one else expected. you could tell the mom was loosing hope. so much to the point where every time she lost sight of minato, she thought he had died. and the teacher had lost all hope in the people around him that he had no strength for himself. but we don’t really think about those things as a kid. we don’t think about those around us and how sad our lives are getting. it’s a type of innocence i didn’t know could be captured this well until i watched this movie.

i saw somewhere that there’s a scene of the kids looking back into the camera as the last shot and im so so glad they didn’t keep that in. in the last scene, they never look back, running towards the place where a gate used to stand. and while ambiguous, it makes it even more happy. they are running, not thinking of anyone but themselves, towards a place that’s void of obsticles and things holding them back. there is no possibility of any “monsters” around them. by getting through the storm, they were able to see a life of no gate blocking them.

the director said they made this on the basis that they are alive, but that in the end it’s up to the viewers. and i think that keeping them alive is so so so much more powerful than killing them. so many queer stories end on the basis of someone dying or just being depressing in general. but for this to have such an emotional story and it still turning out happy, is more powerful and meaningful.
i think the whole basis of this movie is made to make people think the ending will be of the boys being “reincarnated” or being together but in a different life. but i don’t think thats what the boys meant when talking about those things. they never wanted to leave their lives, they never wanted to be reincarnated, they just wanted to be together. and by the end, they are finally able to do that. they get to run off into the distance and have it actually mean a happy ending, and have it actually be the story of their lives.

my favorite line is like the last line of the movie when hoshikawa asks whether they’ve been reincarnated or not.

“were we reborn?”
“there’s no such thing as reincarnation”

“we weren’t?”
“we weren’t, we are still the same.”

i just think that this being the last line of the movie just solidifies the fact that it’s a happy ending. they don’t need different lives or different bodies. they can be happy and hopeful now in this life.

there’s so much going on in this movie i’m so surprised it was all packing into 2 hours. each person has their own life and own view on the things happening around them. it’s almost as if every single part is its own story.

idk this felt so magical i felt like i was flying or something. and i so genuinely thought i was going to leave this movie so depressed but it’s like the opposite and this rarely ever happens with these types of movies so im kinda over the moon right now.

but i still did cry a lot so im gonna nap!!!!!!!!!!

and NO IM NOT IN DENIAL THEY DIDNT DIE DONT BE SILLY!!!!

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If only some people can have it, that's not happiness.

This really complicated story. At first i thought this just movie about a mother's love to her child, really think that mother can be monster if her child being bullied, but then as i continue watch it there's more than that. when mr. hiro's and minato's pov show, we kind understand the most of what happening really. and to me who understand that, make me think that im the 'monster' that accused mr. hiro one sidely. aside for the queer part, mr hiro is a kind person, even when his gf leave him, he don't blame everything on minato. even he questioning everything and try to make it sense for him enderstanding what is happening. and yet he felt sorry for minato understanding too late. then the minato's pov start to get me bawling my eyes out. where minato starting to realise what is the feeling he experiencing now, he got happy, sacred, and don't know what to do. it's his first time feeling this type of feeling, he want to tell it to his mom, everyone about his feeling, instead he keep silent, because if everyone know what his feeling, he's never be happy. how this world is so cruel to him to invalidate his feeling to think sort of type? and for my boy yori, i think this pure soul is too tainted by his evil father, what you mean being sloth is superpower, to not felt anything is super. no boy, you must fight it okay. oh well, this movie is open ending, and even minato said they're not reincarnated yet, i want them to died. this world is to cruel to them

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Growing Pains. Worlds that cannot be reconciled. Standards that cannot be met.

This film has my heart. The narrative moves with a tone as fragile as lies, as delicate as first love, as fleeting as childhood. It also carries a heaviness that cannot be understated; a cold salty somberness that punches straight through you.

“If you have forgotten how to be a child you cannot teach children.” - Austin O'Malley

Though this is not a movie about adults forgetting to be childlike, but rather adults forgetting what it is like to live in the world of a child. Children make law out of adult’s black and white teachings. They know what’s wrong but they don’t know why. They know what’s right, but they don’t know how. That’s why what's rational for an adult and what’s rational for a child will never be the same. This movie is set in that gap. The space between adult and child. Despite this, this is in no way a story about teenagers or the bridge between these two worlds; in fact, the stark distinction between the methodologies of adults and children is a key feature of the film.

Can we judge the grown-ups from seeing things from within the established societal standards? I am adult enough to know that the conclusions they reached aren’t far from what I would have guessed.

Can we judge the children for lashing out when they aren’t able to articulate themselves within these standards? Can we blame a child for deviating from an expected emotional reaction? I am child enough to understand what it feels like to stumble through the dichotomy of these two worlds.

This film holds so much wisdom. Behind all of the lies, stands universal truths. There is no love perfect enough to protect the ones we love against the evils of the world. There is no evil terrible enough to conceal the glimpses of good. There is no standard that can perfectly be met. There is no monster. There is right and wrong and in between. And cats and pigs and happiness.

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Brilliance, Depth and Thought Provoking

!!A Thought Provoking Film!!
What a movie, a masterpiece I watched after a long time, I was just bored on Sunday and randomly picked this movie to watch, I have three points to share with you all who are reading this.
1. It's has a beautiful cinematography, very intense like creating a whole level of suspense and depth.
2. The pov's are such an eye openers focusing on the actual matter or the story and we soon realise that we were too quick to judge anything, anyone from beginning.
3. It's an awakening and story of one's learning about themselves is so emotional indeed it was very nicely portrayed by those young actors?overall, it's a film which left me feeling many things deeply. Monster "could be ppl and idea of how society is too quick to see things not for the truth", or "us as PPL can't really accept the 'differents' or can never be our true selfs hiding behind mask just to escape from facing reality"
Indeed, such a great film, a must watch!!!
and lastly "it's always deeper than it looks on the outside".

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Societal critic supported by a strong cast and impressive storytelling: very deep and impactful!

A beautiful movie very impactful and that made a deep impression on me upon watching. The scenario is one of the strong point of the movie: it almost felt like a theatre play in several acts. Every question find an answer, every element showcased at one point of the script has an importance for the rest of the story... The film approaches some very important societal topics and provide a sound critic of Japanese society without being preachy and with a lot of subtlety.

The cast is really great: the characters are multi-faceted and the actors and actresses manage to provide plenty of nuances to their roles. There are a lot of angsty and emotional moments that are played with expertise for the adults parts and candor for the children parts.

The production value is good, I loved some of the decors as well as the editing which really enhanced the various storylines intertwined with each other. The soundtrack was not overly present but there are some critical scenes involving music with a very interesting set up.

I would strongly recommend this movie to people looking for a film providing a critic of Japanese society, discussing important topics and very well acted. The ending made a very strong impression on me...I will not spoil it but the message behind it really moved me deeply. There are some triggering aspects to the movie but it is not too graphic, a lot happens in subtext and is understood as the story unfolds itself. If you are looking for some fluff or slice-of-life movie, it is not the film for you. But if you are ready for some great and poignant storytelling, give it a shot!

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