Memories of Matsuko director Tetsuya Nakashima's adaptation of Kinae Minato's novel is a tale of dark deeds and muddled motives that's an audacious exhibition of cinematic ingenuity and control. He shows how a young child's death sets in motion a terrible train of events that involves the girl's grieving mother, teacher Takako Matsu, the boys she holds responsible (students Yukito Nishii and Kaoru Fujiwara) and their horribly fascinated classmate, Ai Hashimoto. Switching between the recollections of those involved, Nakashima suggests the impossibility of ever knowing the full story. The dénouement is slightly disappointing, but the performances are as impeccable as the photography, design and editing. Consequently, this makes for complex and compelling viewing, as the director boldly confronts such contentious issues as domestic dysfunction, bullying and the alienating effects of technology, while also continually confounding audience expectations by gradually revealing more of the truth - and the pitiless acts of revenge it inspires.