A film by Hirokazu Kore-eda that turns the "Monster" world upside down *Note! Contains spoilers.

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2023.06.07Rui Takeshima

Is it a Monster?

Heavy rain that felt like an overturned bucket, and a strong wind that seemed to mowing everything down. The climax of `` Deeper than the Sea '' (16) was a typhoon making landfall, but in ``Monster,'' one of the largest storms in the history of Kore-eda films rages on. While watching this movie, I was intensely reminded of Akira Kurosawa. The overwhelming spectacle of the images made me feel the breath of the great filmmaker who was once known as the "Emperor."

Kurosawa is known for dynamically engraving rain and wind on the screen. A fan of John Ford, he devised an action scene in which it rained heavily to counteract the dry, dusty Westerns. At the climax of `` Seven Samurai '' (54), a fierce battle takes place amid heavy rain that turns the ground into mud. It is a well-known story that he mixed ink with ink to make the rain look more intense.

A " Rashomon " style scenario, a " Seven Samurai " style heavy rain. Kurosawa always wrote scripts as a team, and producers Genki Kawamura, Kenji Yamada, and Hirokazu Kore-eda jointly developed the script for "Monster" based on Yuji Sakamoto's scenario. Furthermore, the costume designer for this film is Akira Kurosawa's eldest daughter, Kazuko Kurosawa. Director Kore-eda is already recognized worldwide as a master, but with this film he attempts to soar to the next stage by adopting something similar to Kurosawa.

The fruit of this effort is the divinely beautiful final scene. After the storm passes, Minato and Yori escape from the abandoned train they were trapped in and run down the elevated track, which is bathed in blinding light. Ryuichi Sakamoto's tranquil music echoes as if to bless them. Without the help of Saori and Mori, they left the intolerant and cruel world on their own and opened a new door.

Is it a Monster?

So who is the Monster referring to? People who appear in the movie...maybe Saori or Mori? Or is it society that looks at them strangely? No, it's not. It must be... <us>. We are the ones watching this movie from the ``absolute safety zone'' of the theater seats. Although we hate discrimination from the bottom of our hearts, we are unconsciously discriminating because of the monsters we have created within ourselves. We believe that Saori is a monster parent, Hori is a violent teacher, and Minato and Yori are heterosexual. Hirokazu Kore-eda and Yuji Sakamoto accuse <us> on the stage of a movie theater.

All humans have a monster called ``discrimination'' that is vague, unclear, and uncertain in its texture. No one can escape from it. By recognizing this, you will surely be able to understand the "unseen things."

``Monster '' is literally a Monster work, built with Yuji Sakamoto's ``power to turn the world upside down,'' Akira Kurosawa's ``spectacle,'' and ``a strong Arrival '' that accuses all human beings.

(*1), (*2)https://gaga.ne.jp/kaibutsu-movie/news/

(*3) “Monster” press materials

Text: Rui Takeshima

A pop culture writer who wants to be kicked by Hit Girl. Host of the web magazine "POP MASTER".

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"Monster"

Now showing a big hit

Distribution: Toho Gaga

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