Columbus

Columbus is a quiet, beautifully-shot indie drama from 2017 about a young man and a local woman who cross paths in Columbus, Indiana—an unlikely modernist architecture mecca. John Cho plays Jin, in town unexpectedly due to his estranged father’s illness, and Haley Lu Richardson is Casey, a library worker stuck at a crossroads. The film doesn’t rush to force a plot, instead letting the conversations and awkward silences breathe alongside the striking buildings that fill every frame.

What gripped me was how carefully director Kogonada frames both the city and the characters—there’s a deep sense of yearning that floats through each scene. Richardson, in particular, absolutely shines; there’s a sequence where she talks about one of her favorite buildings, and you can actually feel the weight of her dreams and regrets in her voice. It’s understated, gentle, but never dull; the film trusts the audience to soak in what isn’t said as much as what is.

If there’s a flaw, it’s that Columbus asks for a lot of patience. Some scenes linger long after you think they need to, and if you crave big moments or pace, you might drift away. But if you like meditative films like Lost in Translation or Before Sunrise, and find solace in thoughtful conversation and evocative imagery, this will absolutely land for you.