It’s easy to assume our perspective gives us a reliable understanding of what's true, isn’t it? But what happens when someone else who saw the same thing has an entirely different take on it? Can both viewpoints really be accurate? Or is it possible that we all miss parts of the picture and can’t possibly know everything about any situation? That’s essentially what director Kore-eda Hirokazu explores in his new film, a skillfully made story told from several points of view—all valid in their own way—despite how different they are. This storytelling method was pioneered by Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa in the classic “Rashomon” (1950). Kore-eda’s film pays tribute to that earlier work and is divided into three distinct but connected sections, focusing on a defiant young boy (Soya Kurokawa) who seems inclined to act out. However, his behavior doesn't tell the whole story; it appears linked to his overly protective widowed mother (Sakura Ando), his middle school teacher (Eita Nagayama), the principal (Yuko Tanaka), and his cheerful best friend (Hinata Hiiragi)—and not everyone is as they appear. There are troubling forces at play, leading to the question, “Who is the monster?”, which inspired the film’s title. It's fascinating to see how the various storylines connect, reminding us not to judge people based on appearances and showing that we rarely get a complete understanding of any situation. Kore-eda delivers a thought-provoking story that makes you consider your own impressions and biases in an era where it's easy to make quick judgments—often based on incomplete information. The film could be tighter at times, especially toward the end, but this is arguably his most accomplished and nuanced work yet, one that we can only hope will have a significant impact, encouraging us all to cultivate more open-mindedness and acceptance, particularly when crucial details are missing.

Source on TMDB