There’s a lot to love about Kore-eda Hirokazu’s latest film, BROKER. The film, set all over Korea, follows two titular so-called “brokers” who intercept unwanted babies intended for an overcrowded local church. They altruistically find eager parents who can’t or won’t go through the country’s adoption process to take them in – for a fee, of course.
BROKER plays out like a road movie, with the central question of “what is family?” – not necessarily a unique concept, but this movie does it well. Song Kang-ho (PARASITE) plays Sang-hyeon and shines in the role, bringing empathy to a man whose actions are morally dubious, at best. The cast is rounded out with excellent fellow van-mates, but Seung-soo Im, as the boisterous Hae-jin, was my personal favorite.
Although the film starts a bit slow, the story is unique and intriguing in ways I didn’t expect – especially for a movie about people trying to sell a baby. BROKER reaches high emotional peaks and leaves you rooting for all of its characters, regardless of the possibility of it all working out.
BROKER is available in limited theaters now.
