Columbus

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2:05

Columbus

Released Aug 4, 2017

1h 44m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

134 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

When a renowned architecture scholar falls suddenly ill during a speaking tour, his son Jin finds himself stranded in Columbus, Ind., a small Midwestern city celebrated for its many significant modernist buildings. Jin strikes up a friendship with Casey, a young architecture enthusiast who works at the local library. As their intimacy develops, Jin and Casey explore both the town and their own conflicted emotions.

Critics Consensus

Wonderfully acted and artfully composed, Columbus balances the clean lines of architecture against the messiness of love, with tenderly moving results.

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Hannah Strong

Little White Lies

Imperfect, but more than enough to put Kogonada on the map.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 8, 2018

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

In its precision - the framing of each shot is as eloquent as the dialogue - and measured pacing, Columbus is a balm, a deep tissue massage for the soul.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 7, 2018

Full Review

Ben Nicholson

Sight & Sound

From all the formal elegance there emerges something subtly but profoundly affecting about family and friendship.

Oct 5, 2018

Full Review

Brendan Cassidy

InSession Film

Modernity itself is what architecture is meant to reflect, only to been seen as the film's biggest irony with two characters who refuse to let themselves progress forward...it's a complete and wonderful arc, made by a wonderful architect.

Rated: A

Jul 2, 2024

Full Review

Vadim Rizov

Filmmaker Magazine

Columbus mostly seems like a movie that doesn’t want to disturb anyone, which is counterproductive when you’ve got characters wrestling with increasingly obvious, quite serious emotional problems related to damage done by their parents.

Jan 12, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

But the most potent ingredients are the two lead performances. Cho is a natural at subtlety – somber, reserved and authentic at every turn. But it’s Richardson who steps out as a true revelation.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

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Nick L

An emotionally powerful piece of art. Makes you cry all the time. Visually stunning set pieces and scenery. Smart screenplay with originality. Outstanding performances. Beautiful cinematography and editing. Flawless. A must-see for anyone in need of understanding.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/05/24

Full Review

Jonathan K

A meditative vibe and understated narrative, I'm left a little bit wondering what the point of telling this story was. The script sometimes jumps forward in time more than one might expect, making it a little difficult to know exactly where the thread is in the last third. I think if I try to pull some purpose from the film, it's trying to show what it looks like to grow and move on from your past and current relationship with or toward your parents, and into a new healthier exploration of that dynamic. On a stylistic level, there are some very cool camera shots, building on the architecture motif/through-line in the movie. And Haley Lu Richardson is really great in it, such a natural.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/28/24

Full Review

Cameron H

Great shots and acting. Slow-medium movie

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/31/24

Full Review

Nashville I

It pulls you out of the haze of life, and warmly reminds you of what it feels like to make a new connection. Columbus isn't for everyone, but if you enjoy deeply raw personalities that have something to say and a stark emotion to express, this is for you. It's not overdone, it doesn't force anything, rather Kogonada somehow is able to capture those conversations and confessions we dream about having with our friends, parents, and crushes. It doesn't have suspenseful cliffhangers or plot twists, but it's very much a movie that will help you feel joy and melancholy, to the ends of feeling like your waking up.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/08/24

Full Review

rahscoh

Watched for quite a while (1.+ hrs.) waiting for this 80% viewer rated film of unclear dialog & visual of mostly smoking and lots of square architecture to become fruitful as a movie. So I gave up trying to extract a reason for the high ratings! Maybe it's for those more coultred than myself?? As for architecture and beauty give me Port Townsend/Kalaloch respectively, also a waste of beauty in the stinker! AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, less Kalaloch as it wasn't in that film, it's just beautifull.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

Full Review

eric g

If you loves Past Lives, you'll love this movie. A truly beautiful movie about the human spirit against the backdrop of Columbus' archite

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/19/24

Full Review

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Kogonada

Director

John Cho

Jin

Haley Lu Richardson

Casey

Rory Culkin

Gabriel

Michelle Forbes

Maria

Parker Posey

Eleanor

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Columbus: Trailer 1

2:05

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Synopsis

When a renowned architecture scholar falls suddenly ill during a speaking tour, his son Jin finds himself stranded in Columbus, Ind., a small Midwestern city celebrated for its many significant modernist buildings. Jin strikes up a friendship with Casey, a young architecture enthusiast who works at the local library. As their intimacy develops, Jin and Casey explore both the town and their own conflicted emotions.

Director: Kogonada
Producer: Danielle Renfrew Behrens, Aaron Boyd, Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim, Andrew Miano, Chris Weitz
Screenwriter: Kogonada
Distributor: Superlative Films, DOF
Production Co: Depth of Field, Superlative Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 4, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.0M
Runtime: 1h 44m

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