NZIFF: Riceboy Sleeps

A Korean single mother immigrates to Canada with her young sonin the 1990s and must navigate the challenges of motherhood and adapting to a new world in this poignant award-winning coming of age drama.

A stunning second feature from Canadian director Anthony Shim, this gorgeous coming of age tale of the immigrant experience has been highly lauded since its debut.

After the death of her partner, So-young leaves Korea with her young son Dong-hyun and moves to ‘90s suburban Canada. Casual racism runs rampant in the lily-white community, and Dong-hyun is immediately othered and bullied by his classmates, while So-young finds herself constantly on the receiving end of racist and sexist remarks at her menial job. Despite her isolation in this new world, however, So-young strives to adapt to her new home while providing for her son.

When So-young receives unexpected news, she and a now-teenaged Dong-hyun make an unplanned trip back to Korea. Here, mother and son are given the opportunity to reconcile the present by reconnecting with their roots.

Rated M