Kimchi Fried Dumplings

Synopsis:

Carl is the eldest of three brothers and is expected to be a role model for the family. He wants to show his family that he made the right choice to move away. However, youngest brother Adam’s unexpected hostility reveals the problems with Carl’s choices.

Quick Thoughts:

I actually enjoyed this queer holiday short film. “Kimchi Fried Dumplings” certainly is not the most festive of film titles! And it packs in quick a bit of drama despite only being fourteen minutes long. The tension between Carl and his younger brother, who also happens to be gay, is clear from the very beginning. But as things unfold and it all goes up in flames, the underlying importance of family comes through and we see them bond in a positive way. Tim’s initial reaction to Carl accepting that he needs to be there for his family instead of running away threw me for a bit, but I was pleased to see that it worked out for them in the end. And I absolutely loved their mother’s mixup of Carl’s boyfriend’s name! Overall, “Kimchi Fried Dumplings” is a heartfelt queer holiday short film that’s worth watching.