Miracle Mile

I saw this movie on the IFC short film festival that runs about twice a week. Partly in English and partly in Korean with subtitles, this is a sensitive and poignant story about a young Korean woman who travels to the United States to fulfill her mother's dying wish; to find the brother her mother gave up for adoption years before. Upon her arrival, she is picked up at the airport by a gypsy cab driver who is also Korean. It's obvious that he picked her because of her vulnerability; in a strange country with a strange language, and agrees to help her find her brother as long as she pays the fare. She has limited financial resources, but he finds lodging for her at a third-rate hotel where the friendly clerk is also Korean. His callousness thaws over the next few days as they get to know each other while he drives her from place to place in the frantic search for her brother; often acting as her translator. Her sense of urgency, isolation and sadness all at the same time is almost palpable. But her search brings unexpected results, which I will not disclose here.

Plain and simple, this is one of the most sensitive and intelligent short films I've seen in years. It's absolutely brilliant. Do not miss it.