Sundance 2026 Review: Bedford Park

Haunted by an abusive childhood, Audrey, a Korean American woman in her 30s, faces her emotional past. When her mother’s car accident brings her back to her parents’ home, she meets the man responsible for the accident. Their relationship builds, passions ignite, and they form a loving connection.

Audrey is having trouble getting pregnant and her protest at work about cutbacks leads to a suspension.  On the other side of things Eli shows community spirit by taking an elderly disabled neighbour to a doctor’s appointment which makes him late for a class he is taking to improve his education and job opportunities.  However, Eli is plagued by his own troubles as he gets intentionally runoff the road by someone who has a grudge against him.

The opening shot where the camera looks through a train window at Audrey gives an effective indication that there is an emotional barrier that exists.  Dialogue is used economically as a coffee shop conversation between Audrey and her acholic brother reveals that he is hiding the fact that he is gay from their parents which signals that the family relationships are strained.  It is smart decision not to show the car accident involving Ashley’s mother and Eli as what is more important is dealing with the aftermath.

An interesting flashback technique is having Audrey enter her childhood bedroom where a camera is a present and then the lens adjusts indicating a shift in time.  The colour palette also changes from being naturalistic to a prominent neon pink which gives the imagery a surreal dream-like quality. The score by Michael Brook is longing, haunting and beautiful at the same time.  What is forced are the troubles that keep getting piled upon Audrey and Eli though the slow burn that brings the two underdogs together is more believable.  Moon Choi and Son Sukku inhabit their roles of wounded souls handicapped by the past as they attempt to make a future for themselves.

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival takes place January 22 to Feb. 1  2026, in person and online, and for more information visit sundance.org.

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.