"Monster" Director Hirokazu Kore-eda It was a highly complete script with few problems on set [Director's Interview Vol.319]

What's on the screen reflects back at you, making it feel like you're being held up in a mirror. I suddenly remembered the saying, ``When you look into the abyss, the abyss is also looking into you.'' However, this phrase was actually preceded by ``When fighting Monster, try not to become a Monster yourself in the process.'' There is a saying, "Be careful." Regardless of whether the producers were conscious of this phrase or not, it is admirable that they ask such profound questions while taking the form of a mystery film starring an all-star cast.

Screenwriter Yuji Sakamoto, music composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, producer Genki Kawamura, and director Hirokazu Kore-eda gather together for this topical hit maker. . I am sorry to say that this is an interview with the director in such a situation, but I tried not to touch on the contents and themes of the work as much as possible (*), and spoke to the director while focusing on the production process.

*) I haven't touched on spoilers, but if you're interested, please watch it after watching the movie.

"Monster" synopsis

A suburban town with a large lake. A single mother who loves her son, a school teacher who cares about her students, and innocent children. It looked like a typical fight between children. However, their conflicting claims gradually involve society and the media and become important. Then one stormy morning, the children suddenly disappeared.

* A video version has also been added! Please enjoy both.

Index

• perfect script
• The reason why I changed the directing method for child actors
• Elementary School
• Yuko Tanaka, Ryuichi Sakamoto, working with someone I admire

perfect script

Q: You said that you worked with scriptwriter Yuji Sakamoto and producers Genki Kawamura and Kenji Yamada to develop the script.

Kore-eda: Even when I usually write by myself, I make a final draft while exchanging opinions while having people around me read it. Even at the shooting site, I sometimes ask the staff and cast for their opinions and make corrections. So (both this time and the past), both can be said to be collaborative works, but it's the first time since my debut that I carefully worked on a script with the producers before shooting began. It was very fresh, and there is no doubt that there were few worries on the site.

“Monster” ©2023 “Monster” Production Committee

Q: The fact that you didn't have a lot of worries on set means that the content was completely fixed before filming.

Kore-eda: Yes. Mr. Sakamoto said, ``I don't mind if you change it on the set.'' I think I was able to do it.

Q: Were there any parts that were changed in editing?

Kore-eda: There are quite a few scenes that were shot and dropped. The last 15 minutes were the most unusual. From the 0th issue preview, which only my relatives saw, to the first preview one week later, I changed the last 15 minutes significantly. That is the part that leads to the feeling after reading at the end. I had Mr. Sakamoto watch both of them, and he was very pleased, saying, "I can change so much with editing."

The reason why I changed the directing method for child actors