Riceboy Sleeps

2022

1 hr. 57 min.

Drama

List

97%

30 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

Set in the 90s, a Korean single mother raises her young son in the suburbs of Canada determined to provide a better life for him than the one she left behind.

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Premiered May 02

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Critics Consensus

An emotionally impactful portrait of familial love, Riceboy Sleeps sees writer-director Anthony Shim reaffirming that the most personal stories are often the most universal.

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Wayne M

Riceboy Sleeps is a deeply sympathetic and emotionally resonant film. It's compassionate, gentle and graceful. It's about place and the strong bonds of family. Director Anthony Shim has based this film on his own personal experiences of moving from Korea to Canada. In this superb film So-Young moves to Vancouver with her young son Dong-Hyun. Mother gets a factory job, whilst son goes to primary school. Both struggle to fit in and find friends. Dong-Hyun is even called 'riceboy' by cruel schoolmates. We then move forward about ten years. So-Young is still in the same job, but has made friends, whilst Dong-Hyun goes by David and has managed to find friends and adapt to Canadian life. But both still have periods of unsettledness and David wants to find out more about his father. This will eventually lead to an emotional journey back to Korea. Similar to Minari this fine film examines the difficulties of settling in a new country whilst also focusing on the powerful dynamics of family. It's smart and honest and also emotionally powerful. It features fine acting from relative unknowns and a great score that accentuates the drama. A small film but certainly a powerful one.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/24

Full Review

Tony C

Setting aside all the hype for movies that cover DEI matters, this movie is really well directed.I absolutely loved how realistic and authentic the movie was.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/12/23

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Gord R

This is an excellent movie based on a true story, and it is well worth seeing. I would highly recommend it to anyone who can appreciate a good drama story about the life of immigrants in Canada. It demonstrates the hard ships, the racial discrimination and the cruelty of children to children because they are different. Definitely a must see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/15/23

Full Review

Jay S

Riceboy Sleeps, directed by Anthony Shim, is an emotionally resonant and deeply moving film that takes us on a journey of identity, family, and belonging. Set in 1990s Canada, it immerses you in the lives of a Korean single mother and her teenage son as they navigate the challenges of immigrant life with unwavering determination. The film's meticulous attention to detail and heartfelt storytelling grip your heart, immersing you in the struggles and sacrifices faced by immigrant families. The performances are nothing short of remarkable. The beautiful cinematography paints a vivid picture of their experiences, capturing the essence of their cultural identity and the complexities of assimilation. Riceboy Sleeps left me breathless and actually tearing up. This is a rollercoaster of emotions that linger long after the credits roll. It is an absolute gem, a cathartic exploration of the Asian-North American immigrant experience that stands as one of the most powerful and standout films of this year!! Just wow

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/18/23

Full Review

Owen M

This movie is often heavy handed and melodramatic. The characterization is strange, and the dialog is often cringey. I like the cinematography but sometimes it feels out of place with the bad writing. I really can't recommend it unless you really enjoy melodrama and like the context.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/07/23

Full Review

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Anthony Shim

Director

Choi Seungyoon

So-Young

Ethan Hwang

Dong-Hyun

Choi Seung-yoon

Actor

Dohyun Noel Hwang

Actor

Anthony Shim

Actor

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Namrata Joshi

The New Indian Express

Riceboy Sleeps is imbued with strains of compassion, grace, and gentleness. A genre powered by poignancy.

Jul 17, 2023

Full Review

Jessica Kiang

Variety

A familiar immigrant song sung in such an elegant, sincere voice that it feels like a whole new arrangement.

May 5, 2023

Full Review

Brandon Yu

New York Times

An imperfect but ultimately moving drama...

May 4, 2023

Full Review

Jane Freebury

Jane Freebury

A story about transitioning between cultures with strong lead performances and an authentic feel that becomes moving and convincing

Rated: 4/5

Feb 28, 2024

Full Review

Graeme Tuckett

Stuff.co.nz

There is no trickery or artifice behind or in front of the camera and the locations on-screen are as genuine as the characters. But Shim and his cast strike their notes perfectly.

Rated: 4.5/5

Feb 2, 2024

Full Review

Andiee Paviour

Nobody's Reading This But Me

After quietly assembling the building blocks of a cultural displacement drawn partly from his past, writer-director Anthony Shim gets going with a wrecking ball.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 1, 2024

Full Review

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Synopsis

Set in the 90s, a Korean single mother raises her young son in the suburbs of Canada determined to provide a better life for him than the one she left behind.

Director: Anthony Shim
Executive Producer: Giuliana Bertuzzi, Charlie Kerr, Matt Kerr
Screenwriter: Anthony Shim
Production Co: Téléfilm Canada, Lonesome Heroes Productions, A Lasting Dose Productions, Kind Stranger Productions, September Films, Crave, The Harold Greenberg Fund
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English

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