It’s called The Brokenhearted, so there are no points for figuring out that Leroy Nguyen’s sophomore feature film isn’t a lighthearted romp. The star-writer-director chooses to explore how childhood friends grow apart and the tensions that arise from how they now live. Do the characters have enough dimension for this drama to engage fully?
Sonny (Nguyen) is back on the streets after spending six months in the slammer. The low-level mobster is trying to pick up the pieces of his life, such as catching up with his lifelong friends Winston (Travis Davis) and James (Samuel Joon Lee). Unfortunately, he finds things are topsy-turvy as Winston now only cares about the holy dollar and has no feelings or empathy for anyone. This attitude puts James into his crosshairs, as the man’s taekwondo dojo, for which James took a loan from Winston, is hemorrhaging money, barely able to keep students. Winston wants to collect the debt, while Sonny and James lean on their shared past to keep him at bay. But Winston is undeterred and unmoved, bringing his enforcers Troy (Gene Rush) and Tony (Alex Au). All the while, Sonny is trying to rekindle things with James’s sister, Liz (Jackie SJ Kim).
Considering the story pits a martial arts instructor against a mob man, there’s a surprising lack of action. Well, there’s at least not as much fisticuffs as one might expect, as there are really only two big setpieces closer to the end of the film. Before those moments, The Brokenhearted focuses on the characters, their history, and their diverging future paths. By necessity, this means Sonny, Winston, James, and Liz are given a lot of screen time. Fortunately, they are well-rounded and interesting. Sonny cannot quite grasp that his name “doesn’t mean what it used to” since he was away for so long. James is desperate to keep the school open but also wants to do everything himself, leading to several clashes with those in his life. Winston has become cold and callous, though his friends want to believe only the best in him. This three-way dichotomy is fascinating to watch unfold, especially as the conclusion nears.
“Winston wants to collect the debt, while Sonny and James lean on their shared past to keep him at bay.”
Nguyen is pure magic as Sonny. He’s affable yet frightening and tender yet menacing. Lee is appropriately desperate, which makes the character’s overly self-reliant nature make total sense. Kim is so sweet and funny, and it’s a shame she doesn’t have more to do in the first half.
Nguen directs with finesse, balancing the characterizations, drama, and action expertly. A special shout-out needs to go to the lighting, which is very stylized and adds a noir vibe to the proceedings. The dynamic camera movements mean the action scenes are sure to give all watching an adrenaline rush.
The Brokenhearted ends with hearts being broken, so there is truth in advertising. The story is very engaging, and the themes are heavy but well-handled. The direction maintains the proper tone and keeps the pace chugging along smoothly. The cast excels at bringing their characters and shared history to life. All in all, this is an exciting indie project that is well worth a watch.
For more information, visit The Brokenhearted Instagram page.
"…exciting indie project that is well worth a watch..."
