Riceboy Sleeps is a 2022 Canadian drama film, written, produced, edited, and directed by Anthony Shim.Andreas Wiseman, "‘Riceboy Sleeps’: Canadian-Korean Indie Film Underway With ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Alum Ethan Hwang Among Cast". Deadline Hollywood, August 23, 2021. Based in part on Shim's own childhood, the film centres on So-Young (Choi Seung-yoon), a Korean immigrant single mother raising her teenage son Dong-Hyun (Ethan Hwang) after moving to Canada to give him a better life.Kelly Townsend, "Anthony Shim’s sophomore feature to film in B.C., South Korea". Playback, August 27, 2021.
Production The film was shot in fall 2021, primarily in the Greater Vancouver Area with some location shooting in South Korea.
Shim shot the film primarily in long takes, avoiding the practice of shooting camera coverage or editing the scenes.Etan Vlessing, "TIFF: ‘Riceboy Sleeps’ Director Talks Minimal, Single Camera Coverage: 'That Was The Scariest Thing'". The Hollywood Reporter, September 11, 2022.
Release The film premiered in the Platform Prize program at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2022,Jeremy Kay, "Frances O’Connor’s ‘Emily’ to open TIFF Platform alongside films from Maïmouna Doucouré, Rima Das". Screen Daily, August 3, 2022. and was named the winner of the program's award on September 18.Christian Zilko, "‘The Fabelmans’ Wins TIFF 2022 People’s Choice Award". IndieWire, September 18, 2022. It had its international premiere at the 27th Busan International Film Festival in October 2022.Cassandra Szklarski, "Immigrant drama 'Riceboy Sleeps' hits festival circuit buoyed by TIFF acclaim". CTV News, September 27, 2022.
The film was released in Canada on March 17, 2023, before expanding to more theaters in the following weeks. It released in South Korea on April 19, 2023.
In the US, the film was released direct-to-video on May 2, 2023.
Critical response
Allan Hunter of Screen Daily wrote that the film "could almost be a companion piece to Lee Isaac Chung's Minari", and wrote that Shim "displays a sensitivity to the characters and the situations in which they find themselves. He never judges, and Christopher Lew’s gently roving camerawork and single takes invite the viewer to lean in, observe and take stock of all the emotions at play. The changing aspect ratios (Canadian sequences are shot in 4:3) also reflect the confinement and openness of the different countries. And he is well served by his cast, with an impressive So-young capturing the determination and fortitude of a character who puts everything into giving her son a new and better life."Allan Hunter, "‘Riceboy Sleeps’: TIFF Review". Screen Daily, September 18, 2022.
The film was named to TIFF's annual year-end Canada's Top Ten list for 2022.Pat Mullen, "Three Feature Docs Make Canada’s Top Ten". Point of View, December 8, 2022.
Awards Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Busan International Film FestivalOctober 14, 2022Flash Forward Audience Award Riceboy SleepsMichael Rosser, "‘A Wild Roomer’, ‘Shivamma’ win top awards at Busan film festival". Screen Daily, October 14, 2022.Cinefest Sudbury International Film FestivalSeptember 25, 2022Outstanding Canadian FilmDirectors Guild of CanadaNovember 7, 2022Jean-Marc Vallée DGC Discovery AwardAngelica Babiera, "David Cronenberg, Charles Officer among DGC award winners". Playback, November 7, 2022.Toronto International Film FestivalSeptember 18, 2022Platform PrizeVancouver International Film FestivalOctober 7, 2022Best Canadian FilmNoel Ransome, "‘Riceboy Sleeps’ and ‘Until Branches Bend’ win top film prizes at VIFF". Toronto Star, October 7, 2022.October 19, 2022Audience Award, Northern LightsAngelica Babiera, "VIFF announces nine audience award winners". Playback, October 19, 2022.Windsor International Film FestivalNovember 1, 2022WIFF Prize in Canadian FilmNoel Ransome, "‘Riceboy Sleeps’ continues to sweep the festival circuit with $25K prize at WIFF". Toronto Star, November 1, 2022. Palm Springs International Film Festival January 16, 2023 New Voices New Visions Award Young Cineasted Award Toronto Film Critics AssociationMarch 8, 2023Rogers Best Canadian Film AwardKelly Townsend, "Riceboy Sleeps wins TFCA’s 2022 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award". Playback, March 7, 2023.Vancouver Film Critics CircleFebruary 13, 2023Best Canadian Film"Vancouver Film Critics Like I Like Movies" . Northern Stars, February 14, 2023.Best British Columbia FilmBest Director of a Canadian FilmAnthony ShimBest British Columbia DirectorBest Screenplay for a Canadian FilmBest Actress in a Canadian FilmChoi Seung-yoonBest Supporting Actor in a Canadian FilmDohyun Noel HwangOne to WatchAnthony ShimGlasgow Film FestivalMarch 13, 2023Audience AwardMona Tabbara, "‘Riceboy Sleeps’ wins Glasgow audience award as festival co-director bids fond farewell". Screen Daily, March 13, 2023.Canadian Screen AwardsApril 16, 2023Best Motion PictureAnthony Shim, Rebecca Steele, Bryan Demore Etan Vlessing, "Canadian Screen Awards: TV Drama ‘The Porter’ Leads With 19 Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter, February 22, 2023.Best DirectorAnthony ShimBest Lead Performance in a FilmChoi Seung-yoonBest Original ScreenplayAnthony ShimBest CinematographyChristopher LewBest Editing Anthony Shim Asia Pacific Screen Awards November 3, 2023 Best Screenplay
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