Film Review: "Broker" ("브로커") (2022).

From the writer and director of Shoplifters (万引き家族) comes Broker (브로커). This South Korean drama film written and directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda. The film follows two brokers who sell orphaned infants, circumventing the bureaucracy of legal adoption, to affluent couples who can’t have children of their own. After an infant’s mother surprises the duo by returning to ensure her child finds a good home, the three embark on a journey to find the right couple, building an unlikely family of their own.

The idea for Broker was initially conceived by Kore-eda while researching the Japanese adoption system for his 2013 film Like Father, Like Son, discovering in the process its similarities with the South Korean adoption system. He learned about Japan's only baby box, a place where people can anonymously leave children, and the criticism surrounding the system in Japan. It can be found all around the world, including South Korea, where it is much more popular in comparison with Japan. After Kore-eda discussed with Song, Bae, Gang making a film together, he decided to combine the two ideas. Kore-eda had previously become acquainted with Song and Gang at various film festivals, while he met Bae on the set of his 2009 film, Air Doll. Kore-eda has described the film as being a companion piece to his 2018 film Shoplifters, with the two films sharing a thematic interest in social outcasts who come together to form unconventional families. After meeting with the three actors, Kore-eda started working on the script. In late August 2020, the film was announced with Song, Bae, and Gang set to star, under the working title reported to be Baby, Box, Broker or simply Broker. Kore-eda originally used Baby, Box, Broker as the goal of the story was to connect the three elements. By mid April 2021, Lee Ji-eun and Lee Joo-young rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late June. Filming took place in Busan, Gangwon-do, Incheon, Pohang, Samcheok, Seoul, and Uljin, South Korea.

The film stars Song Kang-ho, Gang Dong-won, Bae Doona, Lee Ji-eun, and Lee Joo-young. Each of the characters are sharply developed, but the narrative balance inevitably tips toward towards the emotionally challenged architect, deftly played by Korean K-pop star Lee Ji-eun.

It seems Kore-eda Hirokazu is incapable of making bad movies. The Korean adoption system premise in films is nothing new. But he just makes it so darn affecting and poignant, avoiding all the clichés that go with this kind of blurry-eyed family drama. The film explores the meaning of parenthood in a most unique way, taking a deeply thoughtful approach to a hypothetical and following its unknown paths in an organic manner. There are times when the script seems just too schematic - as if Kore-eda has decided that we should all sit still while he lays out the nature versus nurture debate. Then the small truths which enrich each scene take over.

Simon says Broker (브로커) receives:

Also, see my review for The Truth.