Overview

• Hirokazu Kore-eda's latest film "Monster" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and follows a mother's campaign for justice for her son who claims to have been abused by his teacher.
• The story explores the effects of closely held secrets on relationships and sensitively examines pain, repression and self-acceptance.
• Though the film portrays a relationship between two schoolboys, the director did not want to focus on their sexual identity.
• Kore-eda consulted an organization supporting LGBTQ+ children while making the film, which is told non-chronologically in three parts.
• "Monster" received a six-minute standing ovation at Cannes and is competing for the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or.