"Rarely will images of mighty concrete and stone dwellings set against tranquil waters or a gentle spring shower resonate so powerfully as those on display every day in the southern Indiana city of Columbus, captured so breathtakingly in the film." - Miriam Di Nunzio, Chicago Sun-Times

"In its precision - the framing of each shot is as eloquent as the dialogue - and measured pacing, COLUMBUS is a balm, a deep tissue massage for the soul." - Wendy Ide, Observer

"The movie's framings are uncannily beautiful. They remind us that films, like buildings, are formed by squares and spaces that catch light and shadow. The dialogue is a wonder too." - Nigel Andrews, Financial Times 

This event is part of MODERNISM AS CHARACTER, a three-part series of screenings, conversations, and discussions, featuring Modernist design, buildings, landscapes, allied arts, and ideas organized by Docomomo Chicago and the Gene Siskel Film Center. 


When a renowned architecture scholar falls suddenly ill during a speaking tour, his son Jin (John Cho) finds himself stranded in Columbus, Indiana - a small Midwestern city celebrated for its many significant modernist buildings. Jin strikes up a friendship with Casey (Haley Lu Richardson), a young architecture enthusiast who works at the local library. As their intimacy develops, Jin and Casey explore both the town and their conflicted emotions: Jin's estranged relationship with his father, and Casey's reluctance to leave Columbus and her mother.

With its naturalistic rhythms and empathy for the complexities of families, debut director Kogonada's COLUMBUS unfolds as a gently drifting, deeply absorbing conversation. With strong supporting turns from Parker Posey, Rory Culkin, and Michelle Forbes, COLUMBUS is also a showcase for its director's striking eye for the way physical space can affect emotions. 


Festivals & Awards
Nominee - Prix du jury, Élysées Film Festival
Nominee - Audience Award, Best of Next, Sundance Film Festival


We require proof of full vaccination or a negative result on a COVID PCR test for all screenings and events at the Film Center. See our full COVID-19 policy and details below. 

COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS