Broker ★★★★★

Director: Hirokazu Koreeda

Cast: Doona Bae, Kang-ho Song, Joo-Young Lee, Dong-won Gang, Ji-eun Lee

Release: Busan International Film Festival 2022

The Busan International Film Festival continues to shine with its exceptional lineup! There are a ton of amazing movies to choose from! After having its World Premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, Broker is a title you absolutely need to watch when it’s officially out in theatres. Written and directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, best known for his Palme d’Or winning film Shoplifters, it’s his second feature set outside his native country of Japan after making The Truth, which takes place in France. It stars an insanely talented cast of actors like Song Kang-Ho, Gang Dong-Won, Bae Doona, Lee Ji-Eun and Lee Joo-Young. This will be sure to be another beloved classic in the history of Korean cinema.

Sang-Hyun (Song Kang-Ho) and Dong-Soo (Gang Dong-Won) are two brokers who run an illegal business by selling orphaned infants that they have stolen from a baby box at their local church. However, a young mother, So-Young (Lee Ji-Eun), comes back to ensure her baby is taken care of by a loving and caring family after abandoning her child. The three then go on a journey together to find new ideal parents for her baby while being pursued by two detectives Su-jin (Bae Doona) and her partner Lee (Lee Joo-Young). This is a beautiful story of what it means to be in a family while also making you ask some important ethical questions along the way.

Everyone in the cast is terrific, since you know by now they are all incredible actors. They all have great chemistry with one another. You care about the bond of our three protagonists, as they start to feel like a family of their own while going on their road trip. Although, the real standout is Lee Ji-Eun, who brings one of the year’s best performances! The way she delivers her dialogue and conveys her emotions is quite touching, and you understand where she’s coming from. While she’s highly recognised to be one of the most popular singers in South Korea, she should also be remembered as a unique actress. Her conflict is so compelling to see, which is why she’s the most compelling character out of all of them.

The director brings so much depth to the premise and characters, making you realise he is a masterful writer and storyteller. It’s a very profound film that makes you think and question your ethical values regarding this particular type of situation. Admittedly, it takes a little while to get going, but you are emotionally invested throughout. It has a great heart, which is super important for a movie that touches on the theme of family.

Hirokazu Kore-eda should be immensely proud of making such a phenomenal piece of South Korean cinema. There’s much to love and appreciate about this movie, especially in brilliant and emotional storytelling. With a terrific script, heartfelt story and amazing acting performances, Broker will forever be remembered as one of the best films of 2022.