"Exploring the Complexities of Childhood Bullying in Hirokazu Kore-eda's 'Monster'"

Hirokazu Kore-eda's latest film "Monster" is a dense and looping melodrama that explores the unknown and dismantles the idea of "monstrousness." The film follows a mother's fear of losing her son to forces beyond her control and is sustained by the inertia of unanswered questions. While the script's destabilizing structure softens the impact of some piercing moments, the film takes advantage of its strange chronology in powerfully unexpected ways. "Monster" premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and is currently seeking U.S. distribution.