AFTER YANG (2021)
In a near future, a family reckons with questions of love, connection, and loss after their A.I. helper unexpectedly breaks down.
AFTER YANG is a movie that will leave you thinking. It’s a story of a family who must grapple with big questions after their A.I. helper breaks down. The movie explores themes of love, connection, and loss in a way that is both heart-wrenching and thought-provoking.
Of the actors, Colin Farrell was the weakest. His performance reminded me of his acting in The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer. It comes across as stilted and bland. The other main actors (Jodie Turner-Smith, Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja, and Justin H. Min) are good. Turner-Smith in particular does an excellent job as the mother struggling to connect with her family.
The movie is beautifully shot and has some stunning visual moments. The score is also worth mentioning, as it adds an emotional heft to the movie. Unfortunately, the themes could have done with a deeper exploration. The movie feels like it’s saying something profound about grief and loss, but it never quite gets there.
Still, AFTER YANG is a moving and visually stunning movie that is worth watching. Just don’t expect it to be a masterpiece.
(In cinemas in Australia – check your movie guide for your local show times.)
OTHER MOVIES I’VE SEEN:
- Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) **½
- Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) ***½
- Happening (Original title: L’événement) (2021) ****½
- The Northman (2022) ****