Parents' Guide to

Broker

By Tom Cassidy, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Korean trafficking comedy-drama evokes kindness and empathy.

Movie R 2022 129 minutes
Broker movie poster: Five South Korean adults of varying ages stand by a van, a middle-aged man holds a baby

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • Broker: Two adult Asian men smile in the front seat of a van while a worried looking woman sits in the back seat with a baby
  • Broker: Two Asian men, one middle-aged and one in his 20s, walk up shopping mall steps with a baby
  • Broker: A sad looking young Asian woman sits in the back of an open van

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

Katherine R.
Katherine R. Parent of 8, 10, 14, 18+, 18+ and 5-year-old
March 31, 2024
age 14+

Why did they make this movie

See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In BROKER, Sang-hyun (Kang-ho Song) and Dong-soo (Dong-won Gang), two men who sell babies to parents in need, are joined by So-young Moon (Ji-eun Lee), a mother whose baby they plan to sell. While an unlikely family unit forms, detectives look for evidence that will convict Sang-hyun and Dong-soo of their crimes.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This Korean comedy crime drama tackles tough issues but director Hirokazu Koreeda tells them with a slight fairy tale quality with his trademark kindness and consideration. All the characters in Broker have suffered in their lives and on the face of it many are reprehensible. Yet Koreeda's story offers them kindness, forgiveness, and even family. Lesser filmmakers might have struggled to find a feel-good movie in a story of abandoned and trafficked children. But Koreeda is the master of nurturing the humanity in his characters, whatever their situation. With immaculate performances, emotional moments, and occasional dark humor, this is another Koreeda movie that shows the value of kindness, compassion, and connections, and what a difference they can make.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Broker's positive messages. What character strengths did the central characters display? Did you find it strange that these traits shone through despite their abhorrent behavior? What do you think the writer-director was trying to say?

  • What did you think of Sang-hyun and Dong-soo? Did you empathize with them despite their actions? Why, or why not?

  • Family is a key theme in lots of Koreeda's movies, including this one. Do you think that the group in this film could be classed as a family? What makes a family? What different kinds of families are there?

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