Columbus: Why Critics Should Make Films

Columbus (2017)

Kogonada a man who made his name making video essays for The Criterion Collection helmed one of the best films of 2017. Yes. A guy who made high-level video essays directed a film with John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson as their characters traverse through a town called Columbus.

Columbus is a town that can only be described as a mecca of sorts for architecture. The town is exquisitely designed and appears to be almost out of science fiction. Now before anyone thinks I'm about to spoil this for them, let me just say that this film is about one of the only films that are virtually impossible to spoil. Because there is literally nothing to tell. This is a story that represents minimal growth within characters but rather the bread and butter of this film is in its encapsulating viewing experience.

Haley Lu Richardson(left) and John Cho(right) in Columbus (2017)

The beautiful cinematography is beautiful not in just its end product, but also its ease of use. The sheer simplicity of its execution is a thing to behold. In my opinion, most young filmmakers go for flashy, difficult shots that have erratic or unnatural camera movements that leave audiences dumbfounded. All in an effort to make films look sexy or to try and hypnotise the audience into the world of their film. But Columbus takes a different approach. Revelling in simple and straightforward cinematography that is so simple even for student filmmakers working out of their own pockets wouldn't find much trouble in replicating the shots in this film.

Director of Photography, Elisha Christian truly has my respect alongside director Kogonada for making this frankly overlooked choice in making a film. It is often forgotten, the beauty of simplicity.

Haley Lu Richardson and Kogonada on the set of Columbus

This film is guided by the characters. Foregoing any form of plot or story direction, Kogonada's debut project shines in its lack of story. It is a slow burn of a slow burn. Its most exciting moments are when the characters converse with one another. In order to appreciate the beauty of Columbus, one needs to understand that this film has at best a supporting story to its visuals. When you sit down to watch it, don't think or ask questions. This isn't that kind of movie. It's also more than just feeling what's on-screen it's also like looking into two peoples lives without their permission.

Kogonada up till now can be regarded loosely as a film critic. Gaining fame from his frankly god-level video essays that I, myself hope to one day emulate. There is a very much spoken disdain between filmmakers and film critics. Their views often butt heads on a lot of topics regarding the "convention" of cinema. How refreshing it is to see a critic themselves break the very same "convention" they claim to uphold.

Kogonada is an extremely talented director whose work is so clearly influenced by the great Yasujirō Ozu. Kogonada demonstrates many of Ozu's trademark elements in Columbus. The hallway shots are framed beautifully and wide shots that just remain still and static. Allowed to breathe in their atmosphere. Tokyo Story(1953) is a must-watch for those who are interested in the work of one of Japan's greatest exponents of the cinematic arts. Yasujiro Ozu firmly stands alongside the greats of his time, shoulder to shoulder.

The cinematography of Tokyo Story (1953) by Yûharu Atsuta. Swipe For More.

Critics often speak about films with almost an indifference to their tone. Ignorance of the blood, sweat and tears behind the films while breaking down the vision of the director without mercy. Their verdicts influence the vast public as a kind of guide to what's good to watch and what isn't. What impressed me the most about Kogonads's approach to the film was how he not only kept in line with the textbook basics of filmmaking but also broke those rules to further tell his story the way he intended.

The cast of After Yang (2021)

Teaming up with A24, Kogonada brings us After Yang, his second feature film which stars Colin Farell and Haley Lu Richardson amongst a talented group of actors in this Sci-Fi film. What I hope to see in this film is whether or not Columbus was a sign of things to come for Kogonada, and if that really is the birth of a new auteur of cinema.

Thank you all for reading, stay safe and I'll see you in the next one!