Broker Ending Explained, Broker Film Analysis And Synopsis
by Hemalatha R | Updated Mar 02, 2023
Broker Film Plot Synopsis
The story revolves around So-young, a single mother who leaves her baby in the “baby box” outside a church. A detective discovers the baby, but Sang-hyeon, a church volunteer, and a baby trafficker take the child and erase the CCTV footage. So-young comes back for her baby, but Sang-hyeon convinces her to join his operation to ensure the child's safety. Meanwhile, detectives Lee and Soo-jin are investigating the illegal adoption black market and following the trail of the baby brokers. Along the way, the group stops at an orphanage where Dong-soo grew up and encounters a young boy, Hae-jin, who joins them on their journey. The story raises important questions about the ethics of adoption and the desperation of mothers who feel they have no other options. So-young's decision to leave her baby in the "baby box" shows how desperate she is to ensure her child's safety, while Sang-hyeon and his team's actions reveal the dark side of the adoption industry.
The story also explores the idea of redemption, as Dong-soo's troubled past is contrasted with his current work at the church and his care for the children at the orphanage. Hae-jin's inclusion in the group further emphasizes the theme of redemption and the idea that anyone can change their path in life. Overall, the story is a complex and emotional journey that sheds light on the challenges facing single mothers and the dangers of the illegal adoption black market. The fate of the unlikely quintet remains uncertain, leaving readers with much to ponder about the consequences of their actions and the possibility of redemption.
Broker Ending Explained
The movie tells the story of So-young, who killed her baby's father and distances herself from her baby throughout the film. The detectives investigating the murder ask her to wear a wire, but she refuses. She confides in Sang-hyeon and Dong-soo about the murder and asks them to leave her behind because the dead man's wife wants Woo-sung for herself. Sang-hyeon cares for Woo-sung much more than he anticipated and does not care about the big sum of money anymore. They finally find a charming couple who could adopt Woo-sung. However, the husband lets So-young know that he would not like their child to know that he is adopted and would not want him to meet his biological mother. So-young decides to abandon Woo-sung because she does not want him to be a "murderer's" child. Detective Lee offers So-young parole in exchange for confessing to the murder, but she prefers the couple from before to adopt him. In the end, Woo-sung is raised by Detective Lee and her husband, and So-young is seen running with an image of the five of them hanging from a car mirror, making us feel that Dong-soo's wishes for them all to be a happy family may have come true.
Broker Film Analysis
The movie Broker, directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, explores the themes of child abandonment, adoption, and the concept of family. The film doesn't provide easy answers and leaves room for interpretation. The ending's perception entirely depends on the viewer's optimism, and there are no clear resolutions to the child's future. The writing is nuanced and doesn't take sides in the debate surrounding the US Supreme Court's revocation of abortion rights. Although the dialogue does term abortion as the act of killing a baby before birth, the movie doesn't necessarily propagate the idea. Instead, it sympathizes with the helplessness of the mother, baby, and adopted parents. One of the key takeaways from the movie is finding kinship outside of blood relationships and making a family. Sang-Hyeon, a baby trafficker who takes in abandoned babies and places them in good homes, becomes a patriarchal figure who ensures a better future for the younger generation. The film questions the traditional concept of family in Korean society, which is blood-related relations. It advocates for the dismantling of social norms and shows trust in humanity.
The movie recognizes that abandoned babies are often seen as a way to make easy money. The characters in the film, including Sang-Hyeon, Dong-soo, and So-young, are all criminals, and their actions of child trafficking cannot be excused based on their intentions. The film is not confused with its messaging, but rather it strongly opposes the abandonment of newborns. So-young's character understands that the situation demands her baby, Woo-Sung, be adopted into a good family since she is not in a position to take up all the responsibility. Although Woo-Sung is fortunate enough to find himself in the hands of empaths, the movie highlights that he is left with a fragmented and dated future. The film's climax features a scene where all the characters express their gratitude for being born in the world. It is not anti-abortion propaganda, and the film doesn't propagate any particular idea. The writing is nuanced, and the movie does not take sides. It tosses the idea that it might have been better if Woo-Sung wasn't born, and So-young's character seems opposed to this thought.
The movie becomes escapist in moments, such as when Sang-Hyeon, Dong-soo, So-young, Hae-jin, and So-young's baby enjoy a midsummer outing at the amusement park like any happy family would on their holiday. The film is not a hyper-realist sob-tale but rather a salvation fantasy where people idly lean on each other and incapable humans miraculously save each other. In conclusion, Broker is a thought-provoking movie that explores the themes of child abandonment, adoption, and the concept of family. It challenges the traditional concept of family in Korean society and advocates for the dismantling of social norms. The writing is nuanced, and the film doesn't provide easy answers, leaving room for interpretation. Although the characters are criminals engaged in child trafficking, the film strongly opposes the abandonment of newborns. Ultimately, the movie advocates finding kinship outside of blood relationships and making a family.
Broker Ending Explained - FAQs
The "baby box" is a place outside a church where people can leave unwanted babies anonymously. The church has an agreement with the government to take care of these babies.
Sang-hyeon, a volunteer at the church but also a baby trafficker, and his partner and worker at the church, Dong-soo, kidnap the baby from the "baby box".
So-young joins the baby trafficking business because she believes that by doing so, she can ensure that her baby Woo-Sung is sent to the perfect home. Sang-hyeon and Dong-soo make her feel guilty for abandoning her child and convince her that by leaving a note behind, she would eradicate the chances of Woo-Sung being put up for adoption.
Detectives Lee and Soo-jin are following the baby brokers and trying to expose the black market for adoption
When the group stops at an orphanage on their way, they meet a young boy named Hae-jin who ends up joining them.