After Yang (2021)

After Yang (2021). After Yang: Directed by Kogonada. With Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja, Justin H. Min. In a near future, a family reckons with questions of love, connection, and loss after their A.I. helper unexpectedly breaks down.

“Hmm, emphatic u0026#39;Blade Runneru0026#39; vibes during the first half, while in the second half, as the film clarifies what itu0026#39;s about, it brimmed with u0026#39;Heru0026#39; mana, especially in those last ten minutes. u0026#39;After Yangu0026#39; is Kogonadau0026#39;s stylish, sensitive reminisce on the connections we create with what we often consider u0026quot;easy-replaceableu0026quot; stuff.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA light, very comfortable sci-fi – it reminded me a lot of another 2021 release, u0026#39;Nine Days,u0026#39; and/but similar to that, the film didnu0026#39;t land as firmly as I was hopping. So, this is a beautifully decored film. The production design is aesthetically pleasing and all, but I think all that wasnu0026#39;t inspiring enough for Kogonadau0026#39;s camera. Very forgettable imagery Iu0026#39;d easily compare to your usual run-of-the-mill sci-fi movie released during the past decade (u0026#39;I Originesu0026#39; comes quickly to mind). And adding to that the excessively ambiguous/speculative writing a more cynical thinker would call it pretentious, and what I thought was slightly underdeveloped, yes, u0026#39;After Yangu0026#39; unfortunately isnu0026#39;t anything special. And thatu0026#39;s unfortunate, is so for Kogonada and Farrell too. Colin has been in intriguing small projects during the last couple of years, and Iu0026#39;ve been curious to see him in these diverse roles, but here he isnu0026#39;t given anything interesting to leave his imprint. Anyway, u0026#39;After Yangu0026#39; is far from a bad film. Itu0026#39;s a soulful reflection on the humanity of humans, but itu0026#39;s not the riveting cinema Iu0026#39;d expect from such a promising filmmaker.”