Watches
March 02, 2024
A24 does Asian-American romance. The result is exactly what I expected of it. It's not a terrible film, but the presentation is rather bland and the mixed identity theme has been done to death by now. What remains is a bit of subdued sentimentality, but even that has been handled a lot better by bona fide Asian dramas.
Nora and Hae Sung grew up together in South Korea. They spent a lot of time together as kids, but Nora moved to the US, whereas Hae Sung remains where he was born. They lose track of each other until Hae Sung decides to go to the US to visit Nora, who has gotten married in the meantime.
The performances are decent and the premise is suited for the type of stilted Asian romance that can work well when executed with the proper flair. Song's direction feels rather flaccid though, relying on stale stereotypes and worn-down themes. It's an okay film, but it doesn't deserve all the accolades.