The emotions I felt when watching this film come right back as I write this. I am pleased to say that this film wins my 2018 film emotional award because I watched it at a time when I was feeling confused and very much in limbo about where I was at in life. Coincidentally, Casey and Jin seemed to be in the same boat as me. There we were, three people, different ages, experiencing different things yet so similar in so many ways.
The film is set in Columbus, a town known for its architecture and the movie captures that beautifully with lots of wide shots and moments of silence. Casey is a young girl who just graduated from high school and is now working at the local library in Columbus. She is what I would call an architecture geek. She has big dreams that don't really fit in Columbus but chooses to stay and look after her mum who is a recovering drug addict. Jin, on the other hand, is a man in his thirties who has come to Columbus because of his dad, a famous architect who is in hospital after suffering a stroke.
*Screen capture from the movie.
The complex emotions and relationship dynamics are what captured me most. The unlikely friendship between a high school graduate and a man probably in his early thirties is what makes this movie beautiful.
Haley Lu Richardson and
John Cho were perfect for their roles. I believed their pain and struggle as well as their chemistry.
I could relate to the dilemma both were facing; self or family. The film posed a difficult question on loyalty: Should you choose your family and stay or choose yourself and leave? As someone who often puts the feelings of others before my own, I have and still struggle with this question a lot. This film was a reminder that I usually already know the answer deep down, I just need to trust myself.
*Screen capture from the movie.
With that being said, I highly recommend this movie. The dialogue is very intentional and the silent moments leave room for your imagination to go wild.
Until next time. . . .
I leave you with a question Jin asked Casey: What moves you?
Rating
★★★★✩