“Broker” (2022)

Drama

Running Time: 129 minutes

Written and directed by: Hirokazu Kore-eda

Featuring: Song Kang-ho, Gang Dong-won, Bae Doona, Lee Ji-eun and Lee Joo-young

Dong-soo: “It might rain. Take an umbrella.”

Moon So-young: “Come and get me if it rains. With an umbrella.”

Critical Commentary

Broker is a 2022 South Korean drama film directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda. The film stars Song Kang-ho, Kang Dong-won, IU, and Bae Doona. It follows two brokers who run a business of finding adoptive parents for babies abandoned in “baby boxes”. After an infant’s mother surprises the duo by returning to ensure her child finds a good home, the three embark on a journey to find the right couple, building an unlikely family of their own.

The film premiered at the 75th Cannes Film Festival on May 26, 2022, where it won the award for Best Actor for Song Kang-ho. It was released in South Korea on June 8, 2022.

The film opens with a young woman named So-young (IU) leaving her newborn baby in a “baby box”. The next day, two brokers, Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho) and Dong-soo (Kang Dong-won), collect the baby and take it to their office. They plan to find a good adoptive family for the baby, but So-young soon returns to the office, determined to keep her child.

Sang-hyun and Dong-soo agree to help So-young find a family for her baby, but only if she agrees to go on a road trip with them. They travel to different cities, meeting with potential adoptive parents. Along the way, they bond with So-young and the baby, and they begin to question their own beliefs about family and adoption.

“Broker” explores a number of themes, including family, adoption, and motherhood. The film challenges the traditional definition of family, suggesting that it is not always defined by blood or legal ties. It also explores the complex emotions that mothers experience when they give up their children for adoption.

The film is also notable for its depiction of the “baby box” system. Baby boxes are small, anonymous boxes where parents can anonymously leave their newborns. The boxes are monitored by social workers, who ensure that the babies are safe and healthy. The system is controversial, with some people arguing that it encourages abandonment. However, the film argues that the baby box system can be a lifeline for mothers who are struggling to care for their children.

The film has also been praised by critics for its sensitive handling of the subject matter. The Hollywood Reporter called it “a moving and compassionate film that explores the complex emotions of motherhood and adoption.” The New York Times said that it is “a beautifully made film that is both heartbreaking and hopeful.”

The film’s depiction of the “baby box” system is particularly noteworthy. The system is controversial, with some people arguing that it encourages abandonment. However, the film argues that the baby box system can be a lifeline for mothers who are struggling to care for their children. The film shows how the system can provide a safe and anonymous way for mothers to give up their children, and how it can help to connect mothers with adoptive families who are looking for children.

The film’s cast is excellent. Song Kang-ho gives a standout performance as Sang-hyun, the compassionate broker who helps So-young find a family for her baby. Kang Dong-won is also excellent as Dong-soo, the more cynical broker who is initially reluctant to help So-young. IU gives a strong performance as So-young, the young mother who is struggling to make a decision about her baby. Bae Doona is also good as Sang-hyun’s wife, who is also a broker.

The film’s direction is also excellent. Hirokazu Kore-eda is a master filmmaker, and he brings his usual sensitivity and compassion to the film. He creates a film that is both heartbreaking and hopeful, and he explores the complex themes of family, adoption, and motherhood with great skill. “Broker” is a moving and thought-provoking film that is well worth a watch. It is a film that will stay with you long after you have seen it.

“Broker” is a moving and thought-provoking film that explores the complex themes of family, adoption, and motherhood. The film is beautifully made and features strong performances from its cast. If you are looking for a film that will make you think and feel, then “Broker” is definitely worth a watch.

Technical Commentary

Video

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a satisfactory level of detail, with facial particulars most pronounced, examining differences in age. Urban tours retain a level of texture with building exteriors and decorative additions. Cityscapes and rural travel preserve deep distances, showing off the bigness of the locations and all the architectural offerings found along the way. Costuming is fibrous, including softer baby gear and thicker business attire. 

Audio

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix deals with the gentle ways of “Broker,” offering crisp instrumentation with scoring cues, which provide a warmer sound to support the feature’s emotional moods. Dialogue exchanges are distinct, securing clear conversations and delicate confessions. Surrounds are active, exploring atmospherics with changing weather and community bustle, also capturing a sense of the open world with outdoor events.