Review of After Yang (2022) by Jluis_001 — 05 Mar 2022

In terms of conceptualization After Yang does not cover much. But it does make it clear that there will be an interpretation by the audience, and one that the director himself had about his story. After Yang is obviously set in the future. At its core it's a science fiction film, but even though its story shows us technology that's frankly unthinkable in our present day. it surprisingly feels natural.

Let's say it would be what reality might feel like decades from now.

The story deals with something that's arguably an android. They're known as Techno Sapiens.

Androids that can think, care and interact in a completely natural way with human beings. The techno Sapien in question is Yang, acquired second-hand by the father of the family he now lives with, who have adopted him as a member. Unfortunately a technical failure occurs and when they try to repair it they realise he has a memory bank inside his body.

Here begins the true essence of this film, which encapsulates the meaning of what I personally believe to be the human condition. Kogonada offers a reflective and contemplative film in which we are shown a robot that within its programming chose the memories it considered memorable and worth preserving.

We are exposed to these memories in sequences of exceptional visual beauty that for me are the best part of this work.

It may seem far-fetched, but After Yang is a story that provokes simple but very interesting questions.

What are the important things in our daily lives? What deserves to be stored in our memory? And what does it mean to be able to relive them through the eyes of a person we have lost?

As human beings that's impossible, but the way this film exposes it left me quite satisfied.

I like Colombus better, but that doesn't really mean anything. This is a good film and a more than solid follow-up for a director who's starting to make his way in the industry.