Broker. Intercambiando vidas

Just as his previous films, Hiro Koreeda's "Broker" deals with existential themes like the meaning of family (or the lack of it). You may argue that the Japanese star director even doubles down on this, adding crime (selling babies) and even homicide to the mix. The fact that his recent film is set in Korea might even add a somber, heavy note - as most Korean films of the 2000s have confronted the impact of deep societal rifts with head-on cynicism (Parasite; Burning) or even brutality (Squid Game).

For all its melancholic atmosphere, though, "Broker" never loses its sense of humor and optimism: In its better parts, it even has a feel-good road-movie charm; in its weaker moments - including the somewhat saccharine ending - it feels more like a fairytale than the quietly realistic style Koreeda is famous for. Nonetheless, a few tears and moments of warmth can be beautiful at times, and the film's story is still worth dwelling more deeply on.

The film takes us on a journey of sadness and hopes into the mysteries of modern society. On one hand, the film deals with an issue that is very hard on hearts, which is the abandonment and trafficking of children, and on the other hand, hope through good people who know nothing but giving by sheltering orphans and raising them. Despite the predominance of the sad side in the film, the events were not gloomy and dark, but rather random and spontaneous and a glimmer of hope begins to grow and spread in the middle to the end......even in the worst of people there is good.

Of course not forgetting the great performance from Song Kang-ho.

"Shoplifters," one of the best movies I've seen in recent years, led me to this film by the same director. "Broker" shares a lot in common with the other film, mostly in giving us another ragtag assortment of characters who ban together as a family in the absence of more traditional relatives. Both films are about family being defined by the people who support you in life, not necessarily those you share blood with. I liked "Broker," but not anywhere nearly as much as "Shoplifters." It's got a laid back road trip vibe, but it's also got a whole bunch of plot strands that don't completely get resolved satisfactorily. One in particular, about some gangsters after money owed them, feels especially unnecessary and even left me feeling a bit confused.

So not a home run, but there's still a lot in the movie to like and I would recommend it based on that.

Grade: B+

Profound drama with mostly likeable characters. Kore-eda picked up scattered parts in first half before put his own signature bittersweet story about humanity. Awesome cast strongly formed a new-found family that will tear us apart. The ferris wheel scene tho 😭

From the writer-director of Shoplifters comes yet another delicately layered & endlessly human drama concerning a group of broken folks who come together to form an unconventional family. Brimming with warmth, told with tenderness and anchored by impressive performances, Broker navigates through love, abandonment, family, choices, ethics & adoption, and is engrossing for the most part.

Written & directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, the premise is simple, accessible & in motion within minutes into the picture but the accompanying subplots do make the whole thing seem a tad messier than it needs to be. The more time we spend with these characters, the more we can empathise with them and the powerful bond that develops between them is allowed to evolve with a certain naturalness.

There are times when some of the branching storylines feel unnecessary to the central plot and don't contribute in a manner that enriches the viewing experience. The highlights are the strong & measured acts from the entire cast, with Song Kang-ho leading from the front and Lee Ji-eun standing out in her supporting role. The chemistry between them also has a familial quality to it, and it glues the film together.

Overall, Broker is as sweet & sentimental as it is sobering & melancholic and often makes sure that its emotional beats are hitting the right notes. The ending is somewhat unsatisfactory but the journey leading up to it never allows the interest to fizzle out, thanks to excellent character moments & commitment from its cast. A more streamlined narrative would've worked wonders but this South Korean drama still packs a punch.