Pawn

Review 

10/10 is my rating

This is the most heartwarming movie I've seen in a really long time. The only very minor change I'd suggest is how Doo-seok and Seung-yi first come together—but it's such a tiny quibble that it doesn't detract at all from this beautiful story. I would highly recommend Pawn to anyone who loves family dramas about a group of people that choose each other not because of biology but due to connection. This movie showcases the best side of humanity even in tough circumstances. It's uplifting, emotional, and full of genuine warmth. I'd watch it again without hesitation and recommend it to everyone—it's just that good.

Spoilers  

The one and only thing I'd change is that it felt a little weird how Doo-seok essentially took Seung-yi away from her mother initially. He never intended to keep her permanently or harm her, but taking a child like that is never acceptable on the surface. I think they could've handled it better by having Myung-ja explicitly ask Doo-seok to keep Seung-yi safe overnight while promising to bring the money the next day, then simply not showing up (due to her deportation). That would've avoided the uneasy "kidnapping" vibe entirely. I basically pretended that part played out more consensually and just went with the rest of the story—it didn't ruin anything for me.

When Doo-seok came and rescued Seung-yi from Madam Jung's brothel, that was such a heroic, powerful moment. It was heart breaking for such a little girl to be in such a rough environment, and it was virtually guaranteed something bad was going to happen. Him storming in like papa bear was magic.

I love how their relationship slowly developed from reluctant responsibility to true devotion—Doo-seok became fiercely protective and caring, and in the end, Seung-yi turned around and showed equal devotion to him. It's a beautiful display of chosen family love, being a genuinely good human being even if you don't look like it on the outside, and the redemptive power of kindness. The film really tugs at the heartstrings in the best way.

When she called him "dad" and he was so happy that was such a heartwarming moment. He earned that title not the man who sired her then left her and her mom for another woman. Same with when he explained why he nicknamed her pawn. You pawn something valuable he told her. He never wanted her to fell abandoned by her mom and that was sweet. In fact, when the grandma asked him to bring her to see the mom he didn't hesitate. He was worried she might not stay with him, but he still selflessly took her. When the mom asked him to find her biological father and let her meet him - he did that too. Again, worried she might feel like she found her dad. He always did what was best for her.

Synopsis

Set in 1993 Incheon, South Korea, this heartwarming film follows a tough-looking debt collector who, after taking a young girl as collateral for her mother's unpaid debt, unexpectedly becomes her guardian and forms an unlikely family bond amid hardship and humanity.

Year Movie Came Out: 2020

Genres: Comedy-Drama, Family Drama, Human Drama  

Runtime: 113 minutes (1 hour 53 minutes)  

Main Characters:

- Doo-seok (Sung Dong-il) — A gruff but kind-hearted debt collector who starts off money-driven but grows deeply devoted to caring for the child left in his charge.

- Seung-yi (Park So-yi as young; Ha Ji-won as adult; Hong Seung-hee as teen) — The bright, resilient 9-year-old girl who becomes the emotional center of the story, forming a chosen family with her unlikely guardians.

- Jong-bae (Kim Hee-won) — Doo-seok's timid but loyal partner in debt collection, who also helps raise Seung-yi and softens over time.

- Myung-ja (Yunjin Kim) — Seung-yi's struggling mother, an illegal immigrant from China whose desperate situation sets the plot in motion.

- Madam Jung (Kim Jae-hwa) — The brothel madam involved in a key antagonistic subplot where Seung-yi faces danger.