Columbus
Columbus
7.296%80%
A Korean-born man finds himself stuck in Columbus, Indiana, where his architect father is in a coma. The man meets a young woman who wants to stay in Columbus with her mother, a recovering addict, instead of pursuing her own dreams.
Oliver Reznik reviewedMay 26, 2025
This isn't really the kind of movie I tend to like. Characters going through sad situations, talking, while nothing really happens. Hallmark of empty festival movies for me.
But this one, I actually felt, and was interested in their struggles. Spearheaded by the great characters here.
Casey has a good mix of playfulness and extreme sadness about her. We observe her in many moments of solitude, lost in torturous thought that reveals itself in her stony, hurt, expressions.
Jin is a wonderful foil. A disatisfied dude, dealt emotional trauma by the man he is now practically forced to support. He's cool and conscientous, but enjoys being a bit of a dick. He too has immense sadness that only now and then bubbles to the surface.
And the third star of the show is architecture. Wonderful cinematography characterizes these buildings in an almost profound light. At once you see the beauty while also being aware of how mundane it can all be if you're just passing through in your daily life.
Columbus does drag some in the latter half. It doesn't have quite enough intrigue to justify its run time.