After Yang
Columbus hinted at it, but After Yang confirms it: Kogonada is a genius.
With two immensely soulful and emotionally rich dramas to his name, the writer/director cements himself as a consistent source of visually sharp, literary films the likes of which modern audiences don’t often see.
Kogonada’s adaptation of Alexander Weinstein’s short story "Saying Goodbye to Yang” centers on parents Jake (Colin Farrell) and Kyra (Jodie Turner-Smith, Queen & Slim) coming to terms with the potentially fatal malfunctions of the eponymous Chinese android (Justin H. Min, The Umbrella Academy) they purchased to help their adopted daughter Mika (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja) adjust to a non-Chinese family while still learning about her native culture.
No mere helper robot, Yang has become an integral part of the family — nothing short of a son and brother, and the realization that the trio may have to go on without him shakes each of them in different ways that will be relatable to anyone who’s experienced loss.
As Jake consults bootleg repairman Russ (Ritchie Coster, True Detective) and A.I. museum curator Cleo (Sarita Choudhury, The Green Knight) on possible paths for his “possession,” Kogonada engages with a plausible near-future via subtle, matter-of-fact presentations of technology, including self-driving cars and clones.
Along with the impressive production design, the film also sees the filmmaker playing with special effects to great success as Jake explores Yang’s previous lives. His search for answers leads him to Ada (Haley Lu Richardson), a young woman who appears in Yang’s memories outside of the house, including at a Mitski concert, where the artist’s cover of Lily Chou-Chou’s “Glide” provides a moving commentary on the pains and desires running through those who were touched by Yang’s grace.
While the flesh-and-blood characters reflect on finding love and humanity in unlikely places, invested viewers can’t help but be mindful of those living and dead who’ve made a lasting impression on their own existences, encouraging a level of empathy rarely achieved onscreen.
Grade: A. Rated PG. Available to stream via Showtime Anytime
(Photo: A24)
