Japan’s Kore-eda: sexual identity not the focus in film ‘Monster’

Jun 20 (Reuters) - Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda said he did not want to focus on sexual identity in portraying the relationship between the two schoolboys at the centre of his latest film, “Monster.”

“The age that these children are at is an age where their sexual identity is maybe not fully… they’re not fully aware of it at this stage,” Kore-eda told Reuters on Thursday, the day after the movie’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

Earlier Thursday, Kore-eda told journalists he did not think the story should be viewed as portraying two boys who have growing feelings for each other, as suggested in some reviews.

For “Monster” Kore-eda once again teamed up with Sakura Ando, who starred in his 2018 Palmes d’ Or winner “Shoplifters,” and who portrays Saori in the new film.

After its premiere at Cannes on Wednesday, the movie received a six-minute ovation. ...continue reading

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