After a mother (Ando Sakura) discovers that a teacher’s bullying is behind her young son’s sudden strange behavior, she storms into his school demanding an explanation. Continually left without satisfactory answers—and with an increasingly distressed child—she furiously escalates her concerns to the school board and the media. But as the story unfolds through the multilayered perspectives of mother, teacher, and child, the real truth gradually emerges—and proves much more complex than anyone could have expected.

Lauded by audiences, critics, and festivals around the world (including winning the Queer Palm and Best Screenplay at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival), the film is also notable for including some of the final works from late composer and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto.

“Hirokazu Kore-eda riffs on ‘Rashomon’ in a poignant melodrama about rushing to judgment.” (IndieWire)

"Among the medium’s most humanistic directors, inclined to see the best in people, especially children.” (Variety)

“'Monster' isn’t about what it initially appears to be; the narrative peels away the diversionary misapprehensions until it arrives at its emotional kernel of truth, and the film offers us hope, not despair.” (Guardian UK)

Saturday, January 20
Doors 2:15 pm | Movie 2:45 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

MONSTER (Hirokazu Koe-eda, 2023 / 126 mins / 14A / Japanese with English subtitles) A single mother demands answers from a school teacher when her son begins acting strangely. A fight at school causes even more trouble.