Star-studded premiere for Hirokazu Koreeda's 'Monster' at SM Megamall

One of this year’s much-anticipated film “Monster” will hit Philippine cinemas on October 11. Ahead of its showing date, a star-studded Celebrity Screening was held last October 3 at SM Megamall. It was a gathering of celebrity A-listers, friends from the movie industry, and the media.

Award winning Actresses Ms Sylvia Sanchez, Ria Atayde, and Ms Lorna Tolentino, the women behind Nathan Studios Inc who brought “Monster” to the Philippines, walked the red carpet together. The crowd also went wild when couple Jane Oineza and Rk Bagatsing appeared in unison.

Gracing the red carpet were celebrities Dominic Ochoa, Bayani Agbayani, Ynes Veneracion, Mon Confiado, Beks Battalion, and Angel Aquino. Also present in the grand event were acting royalties Amy Austria, Isabel Rivas, and Ms Nova Villa.

Monster is the latest film from Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-Eda that won the Best Screenplay prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Monster centers on Minato (Soya Kurokawa), a young boy who is displaying increasingly worrying behavior both at school and at home. His mother Saori (Sakura Ando) decides to discuss it with the teaching staff at his school. It soon becomes apparent that his teacher, Hori (Eita Nagayama), is the source of all the problems. But as the mystery unfolds, the truth turns out to be more complex than expected.

Monster is a beautiful yet heartbreaking childhood tale. It’s a must see movie event this year and everyone should watch it. Family, as it often does in Kore-Eda’s films, plays a big part here as well as the lasting effects of grief and the divisions and walls we build for ourselves. Really an eye opener.

“Monster” showing on October 11 in philippine cinemas nationwide. Distributed by Nathan Studios Inc.