(spoiler free)
Continuing his move towards stories set beyond Japan, as was the case with his previous film The Truth, for his latest picture, Broker, director Hirokazu Kore-eda transports audiences to South Korea. However, despite his ongoing exploration of new locations, the film still holds the familiar familial themes of some of his previous work. In this instance his plot follows a pair of child traffickers (brokers) who attempt to sell an infant abandoned by his mother in a church baby box. Although when the baby’s mother comes back for her child amidst the brokers’ efforts to sell him, their operation develops into something quite unexpected.
From the film’s opening moments which see So-young (Lee Ji-eun) leave her baby outside a church and the two titular brokers, Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) and Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won) steal him, you could be forgiven for thinking that what might follow would be akin to a rather sinister crime drama. Broker certainly has all the makings of this kind of film, yet Kore-eda doesn’t let the subject of his film dictate the tone. Instead he brings together a unique collection of characters and explores their individual relationships with family, and the subsequent bond they create with each other. So, in reality Broker is less of the gnarly neo-noir that some viewers might expect considering the subject, and unbelievably becomes more of an endearing road-trip dramedy.
Kore-eda achieves this seemingly implausible feat by way of his well-balanced screenplay that allows his audience an insight into each of his main characters, and thanks to his wonderful cast who portray them. Much of the film’s charm comes courtesy of its child actors and predominately from the young Im Seung-soo. He plays a boy from a nursery the brokers visit hoping to be adopted himself, Hae-jin, with a cheeky glee and genuine sweetness. However he has considerable competition when it comes to cuteness, most notably from the adorable baby who stars as So-young’s son. This little of bundle of joy will have even the least parentally inclined broody beyond belief. And together, these two make the notion of abandoning a child seem unfathomable.
But of course, there are many legitimate reasons why a parent may feel the need to give up the care of their child to someone else. Broker explores this with much sensitivity, never blaming those that find themselves in these dilemmas. Instead the film empathises with them, amplifying their voice. This is seen nowhere more so than through the character of So-young. The tender performance from Lee Ji-eun of a mother facing an impossible choice really grounds the film in reality, and it gives agency to so many others that may find themselves in similar situations. Her chemistry with co-star Gang Dong-won is one of the film’s highlights, as they become intrinsic to each other’s journeys and create the film’s emotional standout scene atop of a Ferris wheel. This moment, amongst many others is captured beautifully by Hong Kyung-pyo, the film’s cinematographer, creating a cohesive feeling between Broker‘s visuals and narrative.
Elsewhere it’s star of Parasite, Song Kang-ho who drives the narrative forward, quite literally as he operates the mini-van that transports the group on their illegal escapade. His presence is a valuable one; always injecting his energy and personality into the picture that sees his character become a father figure for the unlikely group. Kore-eda is careful not to neglect him in terms of deeper character development too, affording this character the same investment he has with the others. And whilst these more intimate observations for each character reveal themselves at differing stages throughout the film, Broker always feels carefully mapped out, achieving an excellent pace across its two hour plus running time.
As a matter of fact it’s quite remarkable that Kore-eda has managed to transform this subject matter into something so surprisingly heartwarming within this relatively concise time. He provides a safe and reliable vehicle for his nuanced characters, who all brim with complex emotion. But yet it’s always a joy to journey with them, even if just for this short while. The delight and happiness of chosen family at display is affirming to no end and subsequently Broker presents a big screen brood well worth adopting.
Written by Hamish Calvert
★★★★
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Thanks to Queen’s Film Theatre for screening access
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