By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: Celine Song
Starring: Greta Lee | John Magaro | Leem Seung-min | Moon Seung-ah | Teo Yoo
Year: 2023
Running time: 105
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13238346/reference/
Gil says: “The debut film from director Celine Song is definitely one of the year’s best so far and I look forward to seeing this film reach a larger audience. The film tells the story of Nora and Hae Sung, two childhood friends who grew up together in South Korea and then lose touch with one another when Nora’s family moves to Toronto when she is 11. Later as adults, the two connect online. She’s in New York and he is living in Seoul. Without giving too much away, they find themselves drawn to each other but find that it’s not easy to develop the close bond that they had as children.
“Song’s background as a playwright is evident in this film as the characters and plot are so well-developed in comparison to other films that explore similar themes of unrequited love and missed opportunities. Rather than follow the traditional patterns , Song really explores the complexity of the conflicted emotions of her main character, Nora, who is not only looking to find her way as a writer in New York but is also looking to maintain an attachment to her Korean upbringing. Not to be forgotten, Song’s directing and writing is tremendously enhanced by the excellent casting of Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro. All actors contribute to the joy and heartache of Song’s characters that lead to an overall great film. 5 cats.
“(Screened at IFFBoston 2023 – now in limited release)”
Diane says: “Just caught this film. The story was richer than I anticipated, and Nora’s character—so full of confidence as a child and as an adult, with honesty and a bit of cheekiness—is one we could use more of. I’ll be giving her a Best Actor nom. 4 cats.”