Watch Alice
- 2016
- 6 hr
Alice is a beautifully crafted drama that follows a successful Korean-American career woman named Alice Lee (played by Sarah Chang) as she struggles to reconcile her past with her present. The film is directed by Korean-American director, writer, and producer Jeannie Donohoe, and is a story of self-discovery, love, and family. Alice is torn between reality and her memories, as she continues to grapple with the trauma of her mother’s death. Her heart aches as she thinks of her estranged father, who she hasn’t seen in 15 years since he left her alone to deal with her mother’s death. Her father’s abandonment is the source of her deep-rooted feelings of insecurity, and she is determined to seek him out and force him to confront his past.
As Alice navigates her everyday life in a big city, she becomes increasingly enmeshed in her own desires and sense of self. She is preoccupied with work, and her increasing ambition sometimes makes her insensitive towards her colleagues and the men in her life. Even her closest friends sense Alice’s deep sense of loss and resulting fragility, yet they are powerless to help her.
As the story unfolds, we see Alice meet up with her father, which triggers a series of events that force her to confront the truth about herself and her family. She is confronted with the hard realities of her past and must finally face the emotional pain she has been running away from for years.
Throughout Alice’s journey, we see her grapple with issues of identity, belonging, and self-worth. She is haunted by her past, but must also deal with the present realities of her job, her friends, and her romantic relationships. As she comes to terms with her own emotions and actions, she must also navigate the complex web of human relationships that make up her world.
The movie is a deeply emotional one, with each character bringing their own sense of empathy and nuance to their roles. Crystal Lee plays Alice’s best friend, and her quirks and support are extremely endearing. Esther Moon plays Alice’s boss, and her quiet care and understanding make her a trusted figure in Alice’s life. Jerry Marr portrays Alice’s romantic interest, and his gentle yet playful presence is a much-needed respite from Alice’s otherwise heavy emotional journey.
The film also explores themes of grief, family, and the complexity of the human psyche. Director Jeannie Donohoe does a masterful job of bringing these elements together to create a nuanced and realistic world that is both relatable and moving.
Overall, Alice is a beautifully rendered piece of storytelling that will resonate with audiences who are going through a similar journey of their own. It’s a testament to the power of cinema, and the profound impact that film can have on the human experience.
Alice is a 2016 comedy with a runtime of 6 hours.