In Brady Corbet’s Oscar-contender The Brutalist, architecture serves more as a backdrop to the psychological drama of its characters, where monumental gestures and hidden emotions dominate the storyline. While the film dives into the mind of a celebrated architect, it pays little attention to the architectural marvels themselves. For those seeking a cinematic exploration of architecture that speaks to both design and emotion, one need look no further than Kogonada’s Columbus, a film where spaces—both physical and emotional—carry profound significance.
In the film, Jin (John Cho) reflects on the philosophy of architect James Polshek, who considered architecture to be a “healing art.” He observes the delicate beauty of Polshek’s design for the glass walkway at the Columbus regional mental health center. Jin admires the structure, though it remains unclear whether he subscribes to the belief that architecture can heal. What is certain, however, is Kogonada’s firm belief in this idea. His meticulous cinematic style and emotional depth imbue Columbus with a sense of quiet humanity, illustrating how spaces can affect us in both subtle and significant ways.
The film’s protagonist, Jin, has traveled from Seoul to care for his father, a renowned architectural scholar who has fallen into a coma. However, his sense of duty is more out of obligation to his father’s assistant, Eleanor (Parker Posey), than genuine love. As Jin waits for his father’s fate to unfold, he keeps himself distracted by his work as a translator. Despite his publisher’s suggestion that “family is the most important thing,” Jin dismisses this, prioritizing work over personal connections in an effort to avoid grief.
Meanwhile, in the city of Columbus, Kasey (Haley Lu Richardson), a gifted 19-year-old, has put her life on hold to care for her mother, who is recovering from meth addiction. The burden of family responsibility has kept her from pursuing her education and career. Instead, Kasey spends her days working at the local library, where she forms a bond with Jin after recognizing his familial connection to a famous architect.
Kasey takes it upon herself to show Jin the architectural treasures of Columbus, a city rich in modernist designs. They explore buildings like Eero Saarinen’s North Christian Church and James Stewart Polshek’s health center. These structures spark deep reflections on architecture’s power to shape human experience, offering a visual feast that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. Cinematographer Elisha Christian’s careful compositions enhance the film’s meditative tone, highlighting the role of spaces in offering liberation and solace. One standout example is the soft glow of the First Financial Bank, a building Kasey holds dear, representing a guiding light in her life.
Though Columbus may appear, at first glance, to be a cerebral exploration of architecture, it is also a deeply emotional story, brought to life by the nuanced performances of Cho and Richardson. Cho’s portrayal of Jin evokes a man caught between the shadow of his father and his own desires for independence. His awkwardness in an attempt to rekindle a teenage crush on Eleanor underscores his ongoing internal struggle. Richardson’s portrayal of Kasey, meanwhile, shifts between emotional restraint and the hope she fights to suppress. Her tender moment with Jin, when she urges him to join her on a midnight walk, encapsulates the film’s quiet emotional depth.
While Columbus may not have been a financial success, the film garnered widespread critical acclaim and solidified Kogonada’s reputation as a director with a unique voice. This success led to a follow-up feature, After Yang (2021), and an opportunity to direct some of television’s most high-profile productions, including the adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko.
Both Cho and Richardson continued to build their careers after Columbus, with Richardson starring in the 2019 tearjerker Five Feet Apart and Cho taking on the lead role in the 2018 thriller Missing. Despite their growing recognition in mainstream roles, Columbus remains a defining moment in their careers. The film quietly offers a fresh perspective on how we navigate the spaces in which we live—and, more importantly, how we connect with one another.
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