‘A Normal Family’ Movie Review
“A Normal Family” When Parenting Meets Moral Dilemma
Imagine the shock of discovering your teenage children are capable of committing a horrific crime. That’s precisely the heart-wrenching dilemma faced by two Korean couples in Director Hur Jin-ho’s emotionally charged drama, “A Normal Family.”
Four years ago, amidst a world that had yet to be upended by COVID, an Asian cinematic gem titled “A Sun” made its virtual debut at the Toronto Film Festival. This Taiwanese family saga, directed by Chung Mong-Hong, challenged conventional perceptions of its characters, weaving a narrative that constantly evolved. Unfortunately, it went relatively unnoticed in the festival’s crowded Contemporary World Cinema section. Toronto film programmers didn’t want history to repeat itself with “A Normal Family.” This South Korean masterpiece, equally compelling, was given a coveted Gala spot.
“A Normal Family” immediately grips its audience with a shocking opening scene—a reckless driver in a blood-red Maserati causes a fatal accident, leaving a man dead and his daughter critically injured. This incident sets the morally complex stage for the entire film.
The story revolves around two brothers: Jae-wan, an unscrupulous attorney (Sul Kyung-gu), and Jae-gyu, a pediatrician with unwavering ethics (Jang Dong-gun). They find themselves on opposing sides of the tragedy, with Jae-wan defending the reckless driver and Jae-gyu trying to save the injured girl. The plot thickens when the two brothers, along with their wives, Ji-su (Claudia Kim) and Yeon-kyung (Hee-ae Kim), come together to make critical decisions.
The film’s four talented actors skillfully navigate the intricacies of human emotions, portraying the layers of doubt and compromise hidden beneath the surface of their characters. Despite their often unlikeable attitudes, their performances are incredibly rich, particularly the two wives who reveal the complexities of their roles both in public and behind closed doors.
“A Normal Family” draws inspiration from Herman Koch’s Dutch novel, “The Dinner,” which unfolds entirely during a turbulent family dinner. However, co-writers Park Eun-kyo and Park Joon-seok expand the narrative, allowing Director Hur to explore the tensions cinematically across several days and various locations.
As the adults bicker over dinner, they entrust their teenage children, Hye-yoon (Hong Ye-ji) and Si-ho (Kim Jung-chul), to look out for each other. Little do they know that these seemingly ordinary teenagers have already exhibited sociopathic tendencies by gleefully watching and cheering on the reckless driver’s actions in a horrifying video.
That same night, the teens commit an unthinkable act, one that most parents would find unforgivable. However, when it’s your own children involved, forgiveness becomes a complex issue. Their misdeed is caught on an unseen surveillance camera, leading to a police investigation and both fathers being positioned to intervene on their children’s behalf.
The film masterfully alternates between humanist concern for its characters, particularly the injured girl on life support, and a darkly cynical sense of humor. It exposes the ironic aspects of its title, “A Normal Family,” as the teens show no remorse while their hypocritical parents grapple with concerns about their kids’ futures and the potential impact on their own careers.
The four adult characters must decide not only whether to turn in their children but also persuade the others to go along with their decision. The moral ambiguity of the situation keeps the audience guessing, leading to an unpredictable and thought-provoking climax.
In “A Normal Family,” Director Hur Jin-ho delivers a gripping and morally complex exploration of family, ethics, and the lengths to which parents will go to protect their children. With its easily relatable premise and outstanding performances, this South Korean gem is sure to captivate audiences around the globe, much like “A Sun” did four years ago at the Toronto Film Festival.
“A Normal Family” Review: Korean Couples Navigate Tough Choices as Their Children Break the Law
Reviewed at Toronto Film Festival (Gala Presentations), Sept. 14, 2023. Duration: 116 MIN.
Production: (S. Korea) A Hive Media Corp., Mindmark, Inc., presents a Hive Media Corp. production, co-produced with Highground Co., Ltd. Central Investment Partners. (World sales: FineCut Int’l, Busan.) Produced by Kim Won-kuk.
Crew: Directed by Hur Jin-ho, based on Herman Koch’s novel “Het Diner.” Cinematography by Go Rak-sun. Editing by Kim Hyung-joo. Music by Cho Sung-woo.
Starring: Sol Kyung-gu, Jan Dong-Gun, Kim Hee-ae, Claudia Kim.
By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed
