by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
How do we as humans cope with loss? We find so many ways to get over that void left by a loved one. We grieve for so many different types of people in our lives as well. Losing a friend, mentor, or any steady presence in our lives can have such a drastic impact on our well-being. This thought is why the film After Yang is such a fascinating study on the human condition. The one lost in this new science fiction drama is not even a person at all… in the traditional sense. The film tackles that idea too — what does it mean to be a person? Yang (Justin H. Min), the artificial being who supports a family, breaks down, which leaves quite the void in their lives. This character study combined with genre trappings and deep themes makes for a must-see follow for filmmaker Kogonada.
What is Kogonada able to accomplish with such a poignant setup and narrative? His direction is introspective and balanced, but this approach might not work for everyone. There is a methodical and somber pace that captures the loss and sadness in the story. But there are moments where the film might come to a crawl leaving the audience feeling a bit antsy (especially with the almost two-hour runtime). There are many elements that Kogonada tries to balance as well. The film might try to overreach, but it does deliver a striking cinematic experience. The gripping emotional journey that our family goes on is compelling, even if some of the characters might not always see eye-to-eye. This is a low key science fiction experience that shuns big effects for the more introspective and thought-provoking approach to the future.
What about the writing fleshes out these ideas? This is a deeply thematic film which makes it more concerned with how our characters process this unfortunate breakdown. We have a father and mother who may have concerns over how connected their daughter has become to this artificial being. The daughter, Mika (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja), connects to Yang due to the looks he was given in relation to hers. The parents struggle to find the balance between the reality and how much they found themselves relying on this being to keep their lives afloat. There are quite a few supporting characters played by the likes of Haley Lu Richardson, Sarita Choudhury, and Clifton Collin Jr. All the cast is clever and thoroughly entertaining. The film lands best when it is keeping its head to the ground and dealing with the intimate emotional responses our characters have towards loss.
What does the cast do to help elevate the strong work of Kogonada? Colin Farrell is by far the biggest name in this film, and he delivers a low key performance that we do not get to see much. His work in Guy Ritchie flicks and films like In Bruges highlight his charisma and energy, while After Yang sees him pull the reins back to deliver an emotionally intimate performance. The same can be said about his on-screen wife, Jodie Turner-Smith. She has proven already that she can command the screen in Queen & Slim, and now she continues to show off her talents. Tjandrawidjaja delivers a strong and committed performance as the adopted daughter in this family. Min is great as Yang, as he offers up a presence as this artificial man allowing the audience to build a similar connection as the family in the film has.
Does Kogonada offer up another winner after his previous strong work? Columbus (his first feature) was no fluke! He certainly delivers a compelling film that offers up layers to drive home the themes of the story — a strong cast, subtle science fiction trappings, and a need for compelling cinematic experience.
Grade: B
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