Monster (2023)

Kore-eda's film masterfully constructs a narrative that reveals, layer by layer, that the strange behavior of the boy Minato stems from a romantic attraction to another male classmate. The Rashomon-style structure (three perspectives on the same events) is a brilliant narrative device, and the direction exhibits the characteristic humanist sensibility of the Japanese director. But that artistic quality does not negate the underlying issue: the work presents this relationship as natural, tender, and worthy of understanding, without question. The viewer is emotionally guided to accept as normal what the film proposes. The strategy is effective precisely because it avoids direct propaganda and relies on the audience's empathy. For parents, this is the most insidious form of normalization: that which operates through beauty, narrative complexity, and well-calibrated compassion. It is not about censoring art or denying the director's talent. It is about discerning what underlying message a viewer receives, especially when the work involves minors. Not recommended for families.