After Yang

I found in After Yang something I had been searching for for a long time. It is particularly special to me as an Asian whose culture and sense of belonging has faded with each passing generation. My recent quest to rekindle what was once of my ancestors has been especially difficult in a climate that has so flagrantly looked down upon me. After Yang provides a sense of relief in the idea that who you are is not solely defined by where you come from.

**My full 5-star review: ** https://www.cinemasolace.com/reviews-%26-articles/f/review-after-yang-%7C-sundance-2022

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/after-yang-spoiler-free-review-sundance-2022

"After Yang may have some pacing issues, but Kogonada's beautifully thoughtful storytelling and ASKA's unforgettable, tear-inducing score transform this piece into a contemplative, inspirational cinematic experience.

A profound, sincere study of what it means to be a family, what it means to be loved, and how important it is to remember where we come from. A fascinating look into the core of humanity through the heart of a robot - both literally and figuratively.

Exceptional performances, but Colin Farrell stands out with a subtle yet potent performance. Occasionally, it loses itself amid its admittedly gorgeous wide, st...

Im unsure what After Yang tries to accomplish (does it want to be a cautionary tale about the evils of privacy-violating technology? A gentle meditation on the nature of memory? The manifesto for a hypothetical AndroidLivesMatter movement?), but I do know that whatever it is, it fails just like Jake (Colin Farrell) and Kyra (Jodie Turner-Smith) fail to parent their little daughter Mika (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja).

The movie takes place in an indeterminate future where it is possible to buy an older sibling for Chinese adoptions (a possibility that is oddly specific). Some years before the events of the film, Jake and Kyra bought Yang [Justin H. Min] to connect Mika to her Chinese heritage; or, as Jake puts it, teach her Chinese fun fact...

When a futuristic family are doing their daily exercise regime one morning, the robotic companion for the young "Mika" (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja) has a bit of a freeze. Pestered by the - frankly annoying - child, mum (Jodie Turner-Smith) and dad (Colin Farrell) decide it has to be fixed, so the latter takes it to a friend of a friend after it transpires their warranty doesn't cover "core" failure. Anyway, his new diagnostician suspects that the chip that controls the young "Yang" might contain secret spyware - and suggests that he goes to visit a scientist who might be able to open up the chip and get to the truth. It's got elements of iRobot (2004) to it, but otherwise I found it all a little too sterile. The story is delivered via flashb...

I really liked what After Yang was attempting to do. There was a really deep, interesting story about loss, but unfortunately the weight of the topic drowned this movie. The movie was barely 90 minutes long and it felt like eternity watching. The emotional impact was destroyed by the slow pacing. In my opinion, this movie had no business being as long as it did. There was not enough material in order to make a feature length film and would have been better suited at a short film.

Score: 57% | Verdict: Decent

Near future sci-fi that's a reflection not just on how our relationship with tech and AI might change, but also on how tech and AI can change our relationships with other people. Lots of dream like memory sequences with an effective soundtrack and visuals. Not bad, not great, a bit slow maybe.