TAPE&CUT: Gook Movie Review

"A Raw, Heartbreaking Glimpse Into the Complexities of Race and Identity"

Eli and Daniel, two Korean American brothers who own a struggling women's shoe store, have an unlikely friendship with 11-year-old Kamilla. On the first day of the 1992 L.A. riots, the trio must defend the store while contemplating the meaning of family and thinking about personal dreams and the future.

Gook is a film that may evoke discomfort in its audience—and that is intentional. It is raw, unflinching, and heartfelt, blending these elements in a way that resonates deeply.

The Los Angeles Riots of 1992, also known as the Rodney King Riots, were a series of violent and destructive events that erupted in Los Angeles after a jury acquitted four Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers who had been filmed brutally beating Rodney King, an African American motorist, during his arrest in March 1991. The footage, which was captured by a bystander and broadcast widely, sparked outrage across the country and highlighted tensions between the LAPD and African American communities, particularly over issues of police brutality and racial injustice.

As this movie is both heartbreaking and funny, it captivated you deeply by its world. Imagine going to your favorite shoe store on the corner of your neighborhood. The half price shoes (kidding they high as ever), the odd foot smell, and the kids who have nothing to do just chilling because it’s a safe space.

But happens to a neighborhood when love isn’t at the center? Check out the film. Trust me you wont regret it.