The sensational aspect of this film is the “baby box,” where a young woman leaves her infant to be adopted. Taking it a step further, 2 men take the baby to sell it. While this sounds like a trip into the Korean underworld, it’s actually a road movie about a quartet of misfits (including the mother) who manage to bond. The director is Hirokazu Koreeda, whose last film was Shoplifters (my review). Some of my comments from that review work here: “The performances are reserved, yet compelling. The film is quietly paced and develops their connections with patience. Low-key by American standards, but sweetly sensitive and ultimately touching.” What starts as a criminal undertaking ends up as a somewhat too talky, but eventually engaging approach to family. 
(3 / 5)
