Well, it appears that there are two movies featuring actor Colin Farrell opening this weekend. One movie features Farrell, heavily made up and in a suit that helps him embody the character of the Penguin, in Matt Reeves’ new take on the Dark Knight called The Batman. The other is a more subtle, but still powerful and artistically beguiling science fiction drama titled After Yang. Not only are these films are strikingly different, they present two very different sides of Farrell’s talent. But, enough about The Batman for now. I have a separate review dedicated to that movie. After Yang is most definitely a science-fiction arthouse film that ponders the realities of our existence, but also examines the future possibilities of emotions and feelings that could eventually develop and exist within the minds of artificial intelligence.
Farrell stars as Jake, a loving father and husband faced with a most difficult dillemma. The setting is the near future and some amazing advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics have been accomplished. After adopting their Chinese daughter Mika (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja), Jake and his wife Kyra (Jodie Turner-Smith) decide that it would be beneficial for her to have a babysitter/sibling/companion of the same culture. They decide to purchase an artificial life form made by the Brothers and Sisters company who could serve their needs and desires. Programmed with a vast knowledge of Chinese culture and capable of speaking the language, Yang (Justin H Min) eventually becomes a beloved, reliable and important member of the family and with whom Mika shares a close bond.
The dilemma that Jake eventually faces happens when Yang totally and unexpectedly breaks down. Desperate to have Yang “alive and well” again, and not replaced by the Brothers and Sisters company, Jake seeks help through the black market. When one particular repair guy named Russ (Ritchie Coster) discovers that there may be a way to tap into Yang’s memories, this leads Jake down a fascinating, compelling and emotional rabbit hole, as he gets to revisit some moments from their lives though Yang’s eyes. He also learns some rather interesting facts about Yang’s “life” outside of the family.
Written and directed by South Korean filmmaker Kogonada, and based on the short story, “Saying Goodbye to Yang,” by Alexander Weinstein, After Yang is an incredible piece of sci fi filmmaking that appeals to me on so many levels. While the film deals with loss and the acceptance of that loss, it also goes to some deeply profound philosophical and existential levels about life, love, and beyond, along with the possibility of these existing for artificial lifeforms. I had never previously watched a movie made by Kogonada, but I was mostly blown away by his take on this compelling story.
While I very much enjoyed this film, I was slightly annoyed with the movie’s abrupt ending. I would have preferred an ending that offered the audience more closure, instead of one that jarringly slams the brakes. Still, I must say that After Yang is certainly a memorable and remarkable movie that is sure to please fans of both science fiction and philosophical art films.
And as I expected, Colin Farrell gives a wonderful, but low key turn as loving father struggling to keep his daughter happy. While his character is initially only concerned with fixing the problem, he ends up taking a journey that has him pondering things that had never previously occurred to him, as well as things he and others like him often take for granted. It is a beautifully nuanced performance that shows the actor’s prowess while appearing nearly effortless. I was also wonderfully impressed with the performance of lesser known actor Justin H Min as the titular Yang. The movie also features great work by Jodie Turner-Smith, Haley Lu-Richardson, Ritchie Coster, and young Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja as the adorable Mika.
After Yang opens in theaters on March 4 and will also be available for viewing on Showtime. For those wanting to avoid the massive crowds of The Batman or simply would prefer something more modest and understated, I highly recommend this movie.