Saori is worried about her twelve-year-old son Minato. Since being told by his teacher Mr. Hori that his brain has been replaced by that of a pig, he no longer believes that he is human. The issue seems as clear-cut as can be, and Saori takes on not only Mr. Hori but the entire ritualized school system while she's at it... Yet Hirokazu Koreeda (Shoplifters) goes on to present two further versions of the story that force us to reconsider our position. "Lovingly detailed and accented by an aching score from Ryuichi Sakamoto, who died in March, 'Monster' is one of the finest films of the year, and its structure—like its circle of characters—carries secrets that can only be unraveled through patience and empathy." New York Times