Columbus

Composite Score: 83.1

Starring: John Cho, Haley Lu Richardson, Parker Posey, Michelle Forbes, Rory Culkin, Erin Allegretti, and Shani Salyers Stiles

Director: Kogonada

Writer: Kogonada

Genre: Drama

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Box Office: $1.09 million worldwide

Why should you Watch This Film?

                Columbus is writer/director Kogonada’s feature film debut about two people stuck in Columbus, Indiana, and the ways that they help each other grow as human beings. It stars John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson as Jin and Casey – the son of a renowned architect who has fallen ill and an architecture enthusiast who can’t quite figure out how to leave the nest – in a deeply moving film about family ties, friendship, and architecture. Kogonada’s visual style and the heartfelt story that he crafts quickly turn the indie flick into a film that you will want to sit and dwell on for hours after it ends.

Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?

                This is not a romance film, and I thought it was going into it and was thrown for a bit of a loop when I discovered the age difference between the film’s main characters (probably around twenty years at least), so really this is more of a heads-up than anything else. Don’t go into this film looking for a romance, and you won’t be so thrown off by the development of the film’s narrative and the friendship at its center. This is not really so much a critique of the film as it is of the marketing and the way we approach movies with male and female protagonists of equal importance. I think the film is phenomenal, but it took me longer to get into because of my predisposition going into the film. If you can leave those things at the door, you will probably find this film even more enjoyable than I did, which is already considerably enjoyable.

So wait, why should you Watch This Film?

                I don’t quite know how to put Columbus’s excellence into words other than by describing what it accomplished for me as a viewer. Firstly, it gave me a wonderful reminder of how impactful friendship can be and how helpful communication between friends really is in developing as humans. The portrayal of Jin’s relationship with Casey and vice versa was so genuine and deep that I found myself celebrating with them as they developed together as if they were people I actually knew, a testament to Kogonada’s writing and the performances from Cho and Richardson.

                Secondly, I loved watching Columbus. Kogonada embraces the architectural fascinations of the city, putting them on full display almost as a third protagonist in the film, shaping the way that each shot is framed and pushing the audience to consider every frame of the film. He takes what should be considered B-footage and makes it feel like engaging main footage simply through the way that he shoots and some excellent musical production by Hammock. I didn’t come into the film as an architecture enthusiast, nor did I leave as one, but the film still managed to get me emotional just by showing the interior of a house and a guy’s back while he stands outside under some trees looking out at a field. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a film that combines its scenery with its themes and characters so well, particularly in such a creative way as this. It was a truly rewarding experience.

                Columbus is an experiential drama that will have you fully engrossed in its characters and story thanks to a brilliant script, solid leading performances, and brilliant cinematography and film editing from its filmmakers. While it might not be exactly what you expect going in, you will certainly come out the other side moved and possibly even with a greater perspective on life. It is currently available to stream via Showtime subscription or to rent on most streaming platforms if you’d like to check it out.