My Name Is Loh Kiwan is a 2024 South Korean drama film by Hee-jin Kim, inspired by the novel I Met Loh Kiwan, by Soh Hae-jin. The film, featuring Song Joong-ki and Choi Sung-eun, portrays the life of a North Korean defector in Belgium, seeking refuge and striving to piece together a life in a world that feels daunting and often hostile.
Instead of a high-stakes action film, the movie is a thoughtful and humanistic exploration of the themes of dislocation, estrangement, and the difficult journey toward healing that comes through empathy and connection. The film, which is uniquely powerful, unfolds confidently, using emotionally sincere, thoughtful, and quiet storytelling rather than relying on action or spectacle.
Plot Summary
The narrative starts with Loh Kiwan, a young man who, fleeing a war-torn country, arrives in Belgium. Upon arrival, he experiences a severe lack of culture shock, emotional numbness, and a profound sense of dislocation. He is burdened by the memories of his mother, carries the emotional weight of his past, along with the hope of forging a new life in an utterly alien place.
His patiently applied for refugee status is being processed, but in the meantime, he endures weeks of financial strain, languag barriers, and a seemingly bottomless well of loneliness. No matter how calm he outwardly appears, it is clear that for Kiwan, internal struggles of emotional endurance, resilience, and the battle for survival are taking a toll.
Marie, a former sports shooter and a person of interest he meets, is quick to capture his attention. Facing her own personal challenges, she is emotionally aloof and detached, and for a good reason—feelings of inadequacy and remorse haunt her. However, gradually, they bond. What begins as a fragile connection grows in strength and in time, becomes meaningful. They begin to share the burden of emotional barriers in silence, drawing comfort from one another.
Small, tender, and human moments fuse the narrative in place—trust and care revealed through a myriad of glances, silence, meals, and dialogue. Kiwan, as a result of these efforts, gradually but surely, is not only being brought to the foreign city around him, but is coming to terms, and finding his place, within himself.
Performances and Characters
As a versatile actor, Song Joong-ki has taken on many roles, but some of his most nuanced and subtle performances shine when he depicts Loh Kiwan. With a looser frame of expression, his gaze appearing both longing and softly vulnerable, and his mannerisms, sluggish as though burdened by years of internalized sorrow, suggest a deeper emotional undercurrent.
Attention and immersion into his performance is achieved through a quiet honesty, and he does not need to force a claim to seek attention. With a grounded approach, he has believable chemistry with Marie, a Relationship grounded to trust and emotional shared understanding as conveyed in her character’s actions.
Marie is portrayed by Choi Sung-eun, and while she offers an excellent counterbalance, her character chemistry with Song Joong-ki is described as gentle and believable. While trying to reflect a woman trapped in her own internal struggles rather than a dramatic overwrought character, her performance does come across as natural and not overly theatrical.
Portrayal of the couple is a depiction of the process of a transformation through the eyes of the other.
Themes and Emotional Depth
- The Value of a Name:
In the context of the film, the title serves a greater purpose than simply naming a person. For Kiwan, proclaiming his name in a foreign land serves not as an introduction, but rather as a form of an identity affirmation. A name is a symbol of the past, family, and culture. Even as Kiwan attempts to build a new future, his name serves as a link to what he is trying to escape. It becomes a declaration of presence: “I am here. I exist. I matter.”
- Displacement and Belonging
The feeling of displacement is a key theme in the film. Kiwan is physically present in Belgium but emotionally alien to it. The cold weather, the unfamiliar language, and the formal asylum processes contribute to his sense of disconnection. However, he begins to forge a makeshift sense of belonging through new relationships, small acts of kindness, and moments of understanding.
3. Connection as Healing
The relationship between Kiwan and Marie is quite unique in the film. It is neither rushed nor overly sentimental. Instead, the connection emerges from the mutual challenges they face. They listen and support each other, providing motivation to take the next step. Healing, as portrayed in the film, comes not from fixing someone but rather from simply being present.
- Endurance and Resilience
Kiwan’s journey, though not heavily emphasized, is one of endurance. The film also captures the ability of a human being to endure what is thrown at them, even when the situation is dire. He endures paperwork, cold nights, unfamiliar meals, and silent days, all the while remaining hopeful. His perseverance, while not portrayed as a grand act, is rooted in humanity.
Direction and Cinematic Style
As for the film’s direction, Hee-jin Kim adopts a sensitive and minimalist style. The film’s pacing is steady and allows the audience to feel the emotions each scene evokes. The gentleness of the Belgium winter is paralleled in the subdued soft lighting and subdued color palettes which reflect the characters’ internal moods and emotions.
The film does not speed through events. Rather, it spends time on moments, such as on Kiwan’s observing queue dynamics, passersby, and his wordless meal sharing with Marie. These moments help as emotional attunement stabilizers, providing a gentle scaffold for the viewer’s imagination.
The director employs silence as much as dialogue, with minimal, yet purposeful, use of music. Juxtaposed to music, melodies of the streets, quiet conversations, and footsteps serve as a blend of realism and intimacy, bringing a touch of tenderness to the film.
Final Thoughts
My Name Is Loh Kiwan does not capture the ‘larger events’ many have come to expect. Instead, the film captures the tenacity of quiet resilience, gentle courage, and the delicate yet robust connections that arise among individuals who consciously choose to care. The film urges us to remember that identity is not merely something bequeathed; it is something we validate, day by day, in countless new locales.
The film additionally provides a poignant reminder that in a world of volatility, to be authentically seen, and wholeheartedly accepted, can be among the most profound expressions of freedom. These themes are strongest through the film’s gentle performances, thoughtful direction, and its rich, multifaceted narrative that foregrounds the dignity of those who, despite unfamiliarity, choose to keep moving.
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