Monster 2023

In the midst of a seemingly ordinary life, Saori Mugino (played by) finds herself grappling with the enigmatic behavior of her fifth-grade son, Minato. As the days go by, Minato’s actions become increasingly erratic - he begins to cut his own hair and returns home without his other shoe. One fateful night, Minato fails to come home at all, leaving Saori frantic as she scours the neighborhood for any sign of her son. Her search finally leads her to an abandoned train tunnel, where she discovers Minato huddled in a corner, shrouded in mystery.

As Saori’s anxiety reaches a boiling point, she becomes convinced that Minato’s teacher, Mr. Hori, is behind his strange behavior. Confronting the school administration, she is met with stony silence and a disingenuous apology from the faculty. Undeterred, Saori decides to take matters into her own hands, only to be blindsided by the revelation that Minato may actually be bullying another student named Yori.

As the truth begins to unravel, Saori visits Yori’s house, where she finds a boy seemingly beset by his own demons. Meanwhile, Mr. Hori’s world starts to crumble around him - he is fired from the school, only to reappear days later with devastating consequences for Minato. As the rain pours down on their household, Saori’s worst fears are realized when Minato vanishes into thin air.

In a stunning flash of insight, the film rewinds back to the beginning, revealing the events that led Hori to notice Minato’s aberrant behavior in class - his classroom antics, which included tossing his classmates’ belongings around and seemingly imprisoning Yori in a bathroom stall. As the truth begins to dawn on Hori, he realizes that his own world is unraveling, with journalists hot on his heels and his girlfriend abandoning him.

As the storm clouds gather, Hori returns to the school, only to be driven to the brink of despair by Minato’s fall down the stairs. It is then that he stumbles upon a typo in Yori’s old homework that eerily spells out Minato’s name - the realization dawns on him that the two boys were actually friends all along.

Hori rushes to the Mugino household, only to find Saori at her wit’s end as she searches for her missing son. Together, they embark on a desperate quest to uncover the truth behind Minato’s disappearance, leading them to an abandoned railcar buried in mud - but when they open it, all they find is Minato’s abandoned poncho, leaving them with more questions than answers.

As Minato’s narrative unwinds like a tapestry, a poignant flashback unfolds, offering a glimpse into his formative years with Yori (character name). The tender moments between them begin to take shape as Yori, an awkward and isolated individual, is mercilessly teased by his peers for his unconventional mannerisms. Minato, empathetic and protective, takes it upon himself to stand up for Yori, much to the bewilderment of Hori (character name), who misinterprets their interactions as bullying.

As the bond between Minato and Yori deepens, Minato’s inner turmoil becomes increasingly apparent. He is torn apart by the conflicting desires of his heart and the expectations of his father, leaving him feeling unworthy and uncertain about his own emotions. One fateful evening, Minato visits Yori at his residence, where he finds solace in the company of Kiyotaka (character name) as they collectively proclaim that Yori has finally overcome his difficulties, only for Yori to retract his statement, sparking a storm of controversy with his father.

As the rain lashes down upon them like a tempestuous lover, Minato stumbles upon Yori, abandoned and fully clothed in his bathtub, their bond stronger than ever. The two escape to their sanctuary, an old railcar that has become a symbol of their freedom, where they find solace from the turbulent world around them. As the storm subsides, they emerge from their hideout, declaring themselves reborn, and together they run wild through a lush meadow, their footsteps echoing with joy and liberation.