Fifth-grader, Minato, tells his mother that he has been abused by his homeroom teacher, his mother becomes enraged and goes to complain. Instead of investigating the matter thoroughly, the school issues a perfunctory apology. However, in the film’s next chapter, told from the teacher’s point of view, it becomes clear that Minato’s problems do not stem from the teacher’s violence. Director Kore-eda presents the events that lead to an avoidable tragedy through the eyes of various characters, including Minato and his friend Hoshikawa. Kore-Eda uses the boys’ stories to address social issues that, like Nobody Knows and Shoplifters, can only be understood by looking more deeply. Kore-eda dares to ask whose rights are protected by the education system—those of the students or those of the teachers? This issue has been in the forefront of the Korean news media recently, and thus, will undoubtedly be of great interest to viewers there and around the world. Monster features a moving soundtrack by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto. (NAM Dong-chul)