Monster

Kaibutsu

64th TIFF: Greek Premiere

The master of low-key cinematic grandeur Hirokazu Kore-eda returns with yet another incredible film that feels like an urgent plea for understanding, acceptance, and love. Monster begins as a mystery film, with a fire outbreak in a country town, and soon turns into the story of a school child whose teacher is possibly violent, only to then change perspective and look at events from different angles, shedding a different light on what we take for granted. Touching on themes drawn from the complex condition of our lives in the here-and-now, but always looking at the world with the wise magnanimity of a great creator, Kore-eda delivers yet another tender masterpiece that overflows with humanity, pure emotion, and hope.

Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Direction: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Script: Sakamoto Yûji
Cinematography: Kondô Ryûto
Editing: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Sound: Tomita Kazuhiko, Okase Akihiko
Music: Ryuichi Sakamoto
Actors: Andô Sakura, Nagayama Eita, Kurokawa Soya, Hiiragi Hinata, Tanaka Yuko
Production: AOI Pro. Inc
Producers: Kawamura Genki, Yamada Kenji, Banse Megumi, Ito Taichi, Taguchi Hijiri
Costumes: Kurosawa Kazuko
Production Design: Mitsumatsu Keiko
Executive producer: Ichikawa Minami, Oota Toru, Tom Yoda, Ushioda Hajime, Hirokazu Kore-eda
Make Up: Sakai Mutsuki
Format: DCP
Color: Color
Production Country: Japan
Production Year: 2023
Duration: 126'
Distribution in Greece: Spentzos Film
Contact: Goodfellas
Awards/Distinctions: Queer Palm, Best Screenplay Award – Cannes Film Festival 2023

Hirokazu Kore-eda

Born 1962 in Tokyo, Japan. After graduating from Waseda University in 1987, Kore-eda joined TV Man Union where he directed several prize winning documentary programs. In 1995, his directorial debut, Maborosi won the 52nd Venice International Film Festival's Golden Osella. After Life (1998), distributed in over 30 countries, brought Kore-eda internationally acclaimed. In 2009, Air Doll was world premiered at Un Certain Regard of the 62nd Cannes Film Festival and in 2011, I Wish won the Best Screenplay Award at the 59th San Sebastian International Film Festival. His film Like Father, Like Son (2013), winning the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, received the audience awards at San Sebastian, Vancouver, and Sao Paulo International Film Festivals and broke the Box Office record of his past films in many territories. In 2018, Shoplifters won the Palme d'Or at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, the Best Foreign Film at the 44th Cesar and many other awards, moreover it was nominated for the 91st Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In 2022, his first Korean film Broker won the Ecumenical Jury Prize and also Song Kang-Ho the Best Actor Award, the first award for a Korean actor, at the 75th Cannes Film Festival.

Filmography

1995 Maborosi
1998 After Life
2001 Distance
2004 Nobody Knows
2008 Still Walking
2011 I Wish
2013 Like Father, Like Son
2015 Our Little Sister
2016 After The Storm
2018 Shoplifters
2022 Broker
2023 Monster