Broker
dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda · 2022
The struggle for connection and belonging often leads individuals to make difficult choices in the pursuit of a better life.
Feature
Moral Ambiguity
Mood
Comedic / Melancholic
Look
understated realism with intimate framing
Structure
interweaving character arcs with dual perspectives
Plot
Sang-hyun is always struggling from debt, and Dong-soo works at a baby box facility. On a rainy night, they steal the baby Woo-sung, who was left in the baby box, to sell him at a good price. Meanwhile, detectives were watching, and they quietly track them down to capture the crucial evidence.
Why watch
"Broker" delicately explores the moral complexities of parenthood and societal norms through a poignant lens of humor and drama, inviting viewers to reflect on the bonds that form in the most unexpected circumstances.
Talking points
- ethical implications of baby boxes
- the nature of family and belonging
- societal expectations of parenthood
- the balance between crime and compassion
Cultural context
South Korean societal views on adoptioneconomic strugglesthe concept of family in modern societycultural attitudes toward parenthood