TRAIFF 2023: Small Fry Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

Sometimes beauty can be found within simplicity. That being said, taking a simple route is often considered daring as there is less room to hide when it doesn’t work out. However, these choices can be dictated by narratives and/or circumstances. In the absence of all the bells and whistles associated with more refined productions, it is characters and story that need to shine through and for the most part, Small Fry gets there. On the surface, this three part character piece starts off simple enough but from there, it further escalates (or deescalates) as the relationships between the characters and their connections with one another grow and develop over a roller coaster ride of sorts as their true natures and motivations slowly emerged. While that drama may come off as a little too manufactured at times, what keeps it afloat are the lead performances from Howon Kim, Seonghwan, and Chaeyoung Leem. The ultimate fate of the film relies on the connection between they and audiences as they appear front and center throughout its 95 minute running time.

Small Fry starts off with Ho-Jun (Kim), a struggling actor who in the meantime found success as a social media influencer focusing on fishing and fishing hacks. On a seemingly normal day, he packed up his gear and traveled to his go-to fishing spot to record his latest livestream. However, this day was shaping up to be something different as stranger disrupted his plans. Ho-Jun quickly learned the stranger was none other than Director Nam (Seonghwan), an indie film director looking to branch out and tackle his first big commercial film. Inviting actress Hee-jin (Leem) to the lake to try to sell her on his new project and the benefit it will have on her career, she isn’t as convinced about he and his motives. Striking up an unlikely relationship. as they spent more time together, their encounter that day seemed more like fate than pure chance. Once they got to know each other, it became clear that they were more connected than they maybe first realized. Their night evolved into a roller coaster of sorts as their true colors surfaced. Perhaps some of the drama feels contrived at times but the three were compelling to watch together as the story come off as a commentary on the film industry as a whole for which Ho-Jun and Hee-jin found themselves on opposite extremes.

In the end, the film was about character finding their purpose in the midst of the demanding nature of the film industry. Mostly contained within a single location, it may be too simple as the actors are asked to fill its character development gaps to sure up its already short running time. However, Kim, Seonghwan, and Leem are successful in crafting an engaging dynamic between the characters. The standouts were easily Kim and Leem, who each deliver boatloads of charm, while the other is just a plot device used to bring the other two characters along.

Small Fry is anything but. Though a decent character piece that may be too simple for some, its performances make it worth checking out if one can find it.

*still courtesy of Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival*

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.