Broker (2022) Ending Explained
tl;dr: The ending of Broker (2022), directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, wraps up the emotional journey of its characters with a blend of hope and ambiguity. The film follows a group of individuals connected through a baby box-a place where parents can anonymously leave unwanted infants. The finale sees Moon So-young (Lee Ji-eun/IU) reclaiming her baby, Woo-sung, after initially abandoning him, while the makeshift family of brokers Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho) and Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won) faces legal consequences for their illegal adoption scheme. The ending leaves viewers with questions about redemption, family, and the moral complexities of parenthood, culminating in a poignant but open-ended resolution.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The climax of Broker occurs when Moon So-young, after initially abandoning her baby in a church baby box, decides to reclaim Woo-sung. This decision comes after she spends time with Sang-hyun and Dong-soo, the brokers who planned to sell the baby illegally. Throughout the film, So-young grapples with her inability to care for her child due to financial instability and personal trauma. Her arc culminates in a moment of profound maternal instinct, where she chooses to keep Woo-sung despite her earlier doubts. This moment is underscored by the film's central theme: the idea that family is not defined by blood or legality but by love and choice.
Meanwhile, Sang-hyun and Dong-soo, who initially saw Woo-sung as a commodity, develop genuine affection for the baby and So-young. Their criminal enterprise-selling abandoned babies to desperate couples-is exposed when detectives Su-jin (Bae Doona) and Lee (Lee Joo-young) catch up with them. The brokers' arrest forces the audience to confront the moral gray areas of their actions. While their methods were illegal, their intentions were not entirely malicious; they believed they were providing a better life for these children. The film refuses to villainize them entirely, instead framing their downfall as a tragic consequence of a broken system that fails vulnerable parents and children alike.
The film's final scenes are tinged with melancholy and hope. So-young, now reunited with Woo-sung, is shown driving away, symbolizing a new beginning. However, her future remains uncertain-will she be able to provide for her child, or will she succumb to the same struggles that led her to abandon him in the first place? Similarly, Sang-hyun and Dong-soo's fates are left ambiguous. Will they face harsh punishment, or will the justice system recognize the nuances of their crimes? These unanswered questions reflect Kore-eda's signature style, where resolutions are never neat but instead invite contemplation about human nature and societal flaws.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
- What happens to So-young and Woo-sung after the film ends?
- Possible Answer: She may struggle but ultimately finds stability through community support or government aid.
- Alternative: She could fall back into hardship, repeating the cycle of abandonment.
- Do Sang-hyun and Dong-soo face prison time, or are they given leniency?
- Possible Answer: They receive lighter sentences due to their genuine care for the children.
- Alternative: The law shows no mercy, punishing them harshly as a deterrent.
- Does Detective Su-jin reconsider her rigid moral stance after the case?
- Possible Answer: She begins to question systemic failures and becomes an advocate for reform.
- Alternative: She remains unchanged, seeing the brokers as criminals without nuance.
Personal Opinion on the Ending & Film
Broker is a masterful exploration of parenthood, morality, and societal neglect, and its ending perfectly encapsulates these themes. Kore-eda avoids a saccharine resolution, opting instead for a bittersweet finale that acknowledges life's complexities. The performances, particularly Song Kang-ho's and Lee Ji-eun's, add layers of emotional depth to characters who could have easily been one-dimensional. While some might find the open-ended conclusion frustrating, I appreciate how it mirrors real life-where not all stories have clear-cut endings. The film's greatest strength is its ability to humanize its flawed characters, making their struggles deeply relatable. Broker lingers in the mind long after the credits roll, a testament to its powerful storytelling and emotional resonance.