Columbus (2017)

I loved this dreamy movie filmed on location in Columbus, Indiana, for its gorgeous photography and magnificent modernist locations. This darling of Sundance is about a high school graduate, with no plans to leave her beloved hometown and its architecture, who meets an Asian visitor and shows him around.

Every synopsis I've read starts with Jin, played by John Cho (after I profiled him in Star Trek Into Darkness he was in its sequel and Grandma), who has to leave his job in Korea when his father becomes ill in Columbus. But it's really Casey's (Haley Lu Richardson, who played the best friend in The Edge of Seventeen) story, with her devotion to her city and her mother (Michelle Forbes was terrific in Kalifornia (1993), Swimming with Sharks (1994), 31 episodes of Homicide, a lot more TV, and a few more movies). Supporting players include Parker Posey (last blogged for Café Society) and Rory Culkin (Macauley's youngest brother, now 28, covered in Lymelife).

First time director/writer Kogonada (it's a pseudonym) has already begun racking up awards and wins for this movie. Before this he edited video essays about movie directors (especially Japanese ones) and artfully edited this movie as well. Many scenes have no cuts at all. Like Cho, he was born in Korea but raised in America, and is now living in Knoxville TN, down I-65 from Columbus.

Cinematographer Elisha Christian clearly captures the director's vision--they are enamored of passageways and often return to the same ones at different times during the movie.

The soundtrack by Hammock (Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson of Nashville) is terrific but not available to stream. You can hear other works by the duo on youtube.

Mike Pence was born and raised in Columbus, Indiana. Don't hold that against this movie.

I know Jack would have loved this had he been available to join me Thursday. Rotten Tomatoes' critics and audiences sure do, averaging 97 and 85% respectively. I followed its official Facebook page and learned that it's now (October 4, 2017) available for pre-order on iTunes. If you read this later, there will be other options. Do see this!