Film Review: After Yang (2021)

After Yang

A24/Elevation Pictures

Showtime

Release date:

03/04/2022

My Rating

8/10

#whatonwhatsgood Express Review (by: Jovin Tardif)

“After Yang” takes place in the future.  Jake (Colin Farrell) and Kyra (Jodie Turner-Smith) adopt a young girl named Mika (Male Emma Tjandrawidjaja) and, in order to keep her in touch with her Chinese roots, they purchased an android named Yang (Justin H. Min).  Mika sees Yang as a big brother.

The drama film essentially tells the story of a family dealing with grief after their A.I. (Yang) malfunctions. The theme is quite emotional.  

After getting service from an underground technician, Jake gains access to Yang's memories.  While wearing VR glasses he watches the beauty of life, the world, and relationships through the eyes of their A.I. (Yang).

Will they be able to reboot Yang or can the family live with the memories and accept grief of the loss of a household member? 

Directed by

Kogonada

Screenplay by

Kogonada

Based on

"Saying Goodbye to Yang" by Alexander Weinstein

Produced by

Theresa Park, Andrew Goldman, Caroline Kaplan, and Paul Mezey

Starring

Colin Farrell as Jake

Jodie Turner-Smith as Kyra

Justin H. Min as Yang

Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja as Mika

Haley Lu Richardson as Ada

Sarita Choudhury as Cleo

Ritchie Coster as Russ

Clifton Collins Jr. as George

Ava DeMary as Vicky

Brett Dier as Aaron

Cinematography

Benjamin Loeb

Edited by

Kogonada

Music by

Aska Matsumiya and Ryuichi Sakamoto