Gook

People are mad and emotional distress has no enemy it's collective the anger we are dramatizing. Gook is that film, independent, epic and evocative. "E pluribus unum" there's more we have in common than our differences had a movie, "Gook" is it.

This movie Gook felt like some parts of it were unfinished. Being a huge fan of David So, I've followed this project since the beginning. The characters were all pretty solid. All of the actors in the movie felt like the roles were created just for them (In some cases like David So's they actually were!) Despite feeling like they took far too long to get to some points, the unexpected ending made up for it. I left the movie feeing like someone had kicked me in the heart.

Gook is a simple story about two young Korean men who run a women's shoe store during the L.A. riots in 1992. A young 11 year old black gir ,Kamilla, (played wonderfully by Simone Baker) comes along and steals their hearts. As the title implies racism is the core. I love the throwback to independent 90's cinema. The low budget black and white production,unknown cast of actors and urban angst. It captures the essence of Jim Jarmusch,Spike Lee and Kevin Smith while not quite ascribing to the level of these revolutionary film makers. Perhaps one of the flaws of this film is that it tries too hard. Chon should have been more relaxed and just let things play out like the films of the 90's that inspired him. The film is predictable. The ending could have went one of two ways and it didn't disappoint by doing just that. By all means this film is worth watching. I hope this leads to bigger and better things for all those involved but most importantly writer,director,actor Justin Chon.

I have never went from loving a film to literally hating it overnight,the film GOOK is a well made piece of art that I actually really enjoyed,but upon during further research on the LA uprising I came across something really disturbing ,a little black 15 year old girl named Latasha Harlins. Learning about this little girl and how what happened to her was part of what was leading to the Uprisings, it gave me a new perspective On the film GOOK.

Suffering and misery is so intense and present throughout the film that it chokes you up. And it intensifies with every minute to eventually climax in a heartbreaking final. Well done. This touched me deeply.