TIFF 2026 Review: Bedford Park – “It does feel refreshingly honest and authentic”

courtesy of TIFF

Not every romance needs a meet-cute.  Let’s call the meeting of Audrey (Moon Choi) and Eli (Son Sukku) a meet-ugly.  As Audrey translates for her mother, who was in a car accident with Eli, their interaction definitely goes from bad to worse.  Yelling, shouting and throwing fruit transpire as Eli coldly dismisses their desire to talk about the vehicular damage.  But, when a medical emergency later throws them together, the pair start to realize that perhaps their life setbacks and experiences might just be the start of a special bond.

Stephanie Ahn writes and directs her feature debut, Bedford Park, which won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Debut Feature at Sundance.  And it’s a tricky film, because there’s a lot happening for what, on paper, would seemingly be an unassuming romantic drama.  Not only is there the burgeoning relationship between our two leads, but a lot of familial complexities at play for both characters.

Temporarily relocated to her parents’ home, Audrey feels the pressure not only from living with her alcoholic father, but also from her mom.  Her mother tells all her fellow Korean parents at church (which Audrey doesn’t regularly attend) that her daughter is a doctor, though Audrey works as a physical therapist.  She tries to set her up with a recently divorced but successful doctor that isn’t a match.  Her mother’s disappointment weighs on her.  Eli on the other hand was adopted by a white family, and is not connected to his Korean heritage.  That doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have family traumas of his own.

All of these things to deal with would be enough for most films, but Bedford Park doesn’t really get anywhere with simply.  There are enough little subplots, like Eli’s family trying to drag him to Miami under unscrupulous circumstances, Audrey’s love of photography, her struggle and relationship with her fertility, and Eli’s previous wrestling championship.  Not all of these details are successfully developed enough.  Especially at the beginning of the film, some fast-paced editing and short scene sequences make the film seem haphazard and aimless.  However, the film thankfully starts to really pull together when Eli and Audrey finally build their relationship thanks to some good chemistry between the two leads.

What makes Bedford Park unique is that it holds any of the romantic tropes we typically see in film at arm’s length.  Love in real life isn’t always getting the girl, losing the girl and then sealing the deal through some grand romantic gesture.  There are complications to real-life relationships that don’t always mean running into each other’s arms at the end.  Sometimes it doesn’t work.  Sometimes someone comes into your life for completely different reasons. Even if it’s to help worth through past traumas.

While Bedford Park at times feels overlong and could use another bit of editing work, it does feel refreshingly honest and authentic. That’s more than be said for a lot of films, and many are likely going to be able to relate to their own diasporic experience.  Both Eli and Audrey have had very different experiences as the children of immigrants, and Ahn’s exploration of this feels personal and sensitive.  By its end, Bedford Park does make up for its scattered beginning and uneven pacing to provide a bittersweet tale of connection.

Bedford Park had its international premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday, September 12.  For more information head to tiff.net