Just over a decade ago, Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash made us all realize just how intense the world of music can be, especially for those who are driven to be the best at whatever they do. Now, director Jason Park marks his feature film debut with Transplant, which tackles similar themes in the world of medicine. That becoming a surgeon would be so punishing is much less surprising, but that doesn’t make this movie any less effective.
Jonah Yoon (Eric Nam) is working hard to be the best surgical resident he can, both for his own sake and to please his mother Minah (Michelle Okkyung Lee). Success, or at least the appearance of it, is very important in Korean American culture, so she is all too eager to brag about his accomplishments. Much to Jonah’s consternation however, she is much less eager to continue the treatments she requires for her kidney problems.
At work, Jonah can’t help but admire the hospital’s renowned heart surgeon Dr. Edward Harmon (Bill Camp) and so he convinces director Dr. Scarlett Marks (April Grace) to allow him to train under him. Once there though, he is shocked and disappointed to learn that Harmon exhibits many toxic and abusive traits, even in the middle of surgeries, and finds himself struggling to decide on the best path forward.
There are some scenes of hospital life outside of the operating room that reveal Transplant‘s low budget nature, where the performances and dialog feel just hokey enough to be noticeable. Luckily, these are few and far between. The moments shared between Jonah and his mother are convincingly touching, but it’s in the OR that this movie really comes alive. Realistic surgical procedures heighten the tension as we bear witness to Dr. Harmon’s subtle and not-so-subtle sadism, alternately played with simmering malice and smarmy kindness by Camp.
Park has crafted an accomplished debut, with the help of Eric Lin’s keen cinematography, Zoe Kraft’s smartly paced editing, and Colin Benders’ tense, pulsating score. It adds up to a movie that mostly feels more like the work of a seasoned auteur and shows great promise for Lin’s future output. A taut, riveting look at familial and personal pressures and ambitions as well as power and the ways it can be abused. ★★★★
not rated. contains graphic surgical sequences and some strong language.
★★★★★ = Excellent | ★★★★ = Very Good | ★★★ = Good | ★★ = Fair | ★ = Poor
-
-
-
-
-