The Director's Chair: Kogonada

This is my tribute to a person I think is one of the most exciting directors to blaze a trail in the 21st Century.

(left) Haley Lu Richardson, (right) Kogonada on the set of 2017's Columbus.

Kogonada in his pre-director days was out making video essays for the Criterion Collection. You can view his video essays on his Vimeo as well as some of them on Youtube. You'll find yourself either bored if you're the everyday moviegoer or completely enamoured with his extremely visual and poetic style if you have the good fortune of being a cinephile. He also has a personal website that showcases all of his video essays in one place, kogonada.com.

Kogonada on the set of Columbus (2017).

He may be relatively new to the scene with only 2 features and a new series under his belt, but his distinct visual style that is so apparent right from the get-go is reminiscent of a young Quentin Tarantino when he debuted with Reservoir Dogs in 1992.

While their styles couldn't be more different, with Tarantino being far and away the more bombastic of the two, Kogonada's aesthetic is more subtle. His films have a kind of gentleness to them. A subtle, soft tone that makes the world of his films feel so dream-like and yet grounded in real-life situations. His characters aren't larger than life or memorable in the way that Samuel L Jackson is for his role in Tarantino's Pulp Fiction (1994) as Jules.

Samuel L Jackson as Jules in 1994's Pulp Fiction, directed by Quentin Tarantino.

They are normal everyday people when it comes down to it. The characters may seem more than they are at first but as the film progresses, you begin to not only realise their normality but also see yourself being reflected in their eyes. The aesthetic of Kogonada is beyond the screaming and shouting. His work transcends histrionics of any sort. Instead, it keeps to its mellow tone entirely.

John Cho in Columbus (2017).

But this doesn't mean his film are devoid of any quotes that stick into your mind. The above quote from Columbus is my favourite quote in the entire film. It struck a personal chord with me and even after seeing the film 8 times in its entirety, it doesn't get old. The characters that he chooses are so representative of their respective cultures and backgrounds while also maintaining their own individuality and uniqueness. The way his films stay with you, linger in you and are constantly on your mind is the magical fairy dust with which he sprinkles on his film. That alone is a greater achievement in one's career as a filmmaker than any award can give you.

The Cinematography of Columbus - a slide show.

Kogonada's directorial debut which you might've already guessed since I've been talking about it for a while now is Columbus (2017).

This film follows a Korean-born man who 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.

The film stars John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson as the two protagonists of the film. Parker Posey also plays her part in a supporting role that nearly stole the show. Kogonada would also pen the script for this film. A screenplay that I in particular have been absolutely dying to read. If anyone has it, please do hit me up.

After Yang (2021) Cinematography - Slide Show (May contain some light spoilers).

Kongonada teams up with the legendary A24 for his next and presumably other features going forward. His second film is After Yang (2021).

The film explores the concept that in a near future, a family reckons with questions of love, connection, and loss after their A.I. helper unexpectedly breaks down.

The film stars Colin Farrell and Jodie Turner-Smith alongside Justin H. Min who plays the titular character Yang, and the amazingly talented, Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja. The four of them make up this beautiful blended family that resides within this incredibly nuanced sci-fi world. Haley Lu Richardson also returns in a supporting role.

Kogonada once again returns to the writer's chair but this time with inspiration in his hand. A source material penned by Alexander Weinstein author of the book "Children of the New World: Stories". After Yang is based on one of the short stories in the book titled, "Saying Goodbye to Yang".

Apple Tv's new series, Pachinko (2022).

Last but not least we dive into Pachinko. A new series that just premiered on Apple Tv which is a saga that chronicles the hopes and dreams of a Korean immigrant family across four generations as they leave their homeland in an indomitable quest to survive and thrive.

This is without a doubt Kogonada's most ambitious project yet. The way this series blends its narrative structure so well while also evoking emotion in crucial scenes is a trademark sign of masterful writing and directing. The cinematography is phenomenal and the locations are magical. Having only seen episode one so far, I can already say that this could be one of the best series of the year.

Kogonada forms a directing pair with acclaimed actor and director, Justin Chon whom you might know from films like 2017'S Gook and 2021's Blue Bayou. Pachinko will have 8 episodes and Kogonada is set to direct episodes 1,2,3 and 7 while Chon directs 4,5, and 8.

This series has a plethora of some of the best talents Asian cinema has to offer. One name that'll for sure catch your eye, is Yuh-jung Youn. An Oscar winner for 2020's Minari. I especially must give a shout out to Yu-Na Jeon who plays the youngest iteration of the main character, Sunja in this series. She made me cry twice in the first episode alone. I cannot praise her unbelievable acting chops enough. Personally, I hope that she gets the opportunity to work with Kogonada or Chon on more projects, to develop her talent as an actor.

That's my brief retrospective on Kogonada and his amazing work. He really is worthy of being called the successor to the legendary Yasujiro Ozu.

Thanks for reading! I really appreciate the support for everyone to keep going with this. It would mean a lot to me if you could help me out by sharing these blog posts of mine or even just a simple like or a comment if you enjoyed reading this would suffice. Thank you once again, and I'll see you at the next one!