Parents' Guide to

Gook

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Poignant, powerful black-and-white drama set amid '92 riots.

Movie NR 2017 94 minutes
Gook Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

tlsaeteurnn_13
tlsaeteurnn_13 Adult
April 12, 2021
age 14+

Amazing

Incredible movie, Justin Chon shows much promise in his films.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

GOOK takes place on the eve of the 1992 LA riots in the predominantly African-American Los Angeles neighborhood of Paramount, where Korean-American brothers Eli (Justin Chon) and Daniel (David So) run their family shoe store. Eli has just scored a box of popular sneakers "off a truck" and hopes that selling them will help them make rent. But Daniel doesn't care about the store and instead plans to cut a demo tape in hopes of becoming an R&B singer. The brothers allow Kamilla (Simone Baker), an 11-year-old neighborhood girl, to hang out at the store, occasionally helping them out. But as the riots begin in earnest, the brothers are targeted by Kamilla's older brother, Keith (Curtiss Cook Jr.), who blames the Korean shop owners for his mother's death.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Writer-director-star Chon's black-and-white drama is a powerful exploration of racial tension, family duty, and the American dream in the wake of the LA riots. It's also a fascinating homage to Do the Right Thing and Clerks. Like those two classic indie movies, Gook doesn't have a complicated or fast-paced plot. Rather, it's a slice-of-life story set against the backdrop of extraordinary times: the 1992 Rodney King verdict (when four police officers were acquitted of any wrongdoing) and the ensuing looting, anger, and violence of the riots. Eli and Daniel aren't racially insensitive like suspicious elder Korean store owner Mr. Kim (Sang Chon, who happens to be Justin's father), who stands behind a huge wall of bullet-proof glass and considers his customers possible thieves, even children. By contrast, the brothers are called "homie" by their African-American friends -- but that doesn't prevent them from getting jumped repeatedly by armed Mexican and African-American crews.


Chon lingers on small moments of sweetness between Eli, Daniel, and young, orphaned Kamilla, who would rather spend her time with the shopkeepers than with her sullen, hot-tempered brother, who isn't above casual violence or looting. Kamilla is half Korean, half black, and that fact means there's unresolved tension between the brothers and Kamilla's older siblings. In one of the movie's loveliest scenes, Kamilla dances with the brothers and is utterly herself. Curious and precocious, Kamilla (and Baker's performance) is a highlight of the film, which can be dark and upsetting. She's curious about the Korean language ("What does 'gook' mean?" she asks Eli after seeing the word spray-painted on his white car), about her mother (the brothers remember her), and about what it means to be family. Despite the movie's tough themes and a couple of overly upsetting narrative turns, there's also humor and hope, even in the darkest of times.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Gook. Is it realistic? Does racially motivated violence impact audiences differently? What about violence involving a child?

  • The movie has drawn comparisons to both Do the Right Thing and Clerks. Why do you think that is? If you've seen all of the films, what do you think Gook has in common with the other two?

  • Are there any role models in the movie? If so, what are their character strengths?

  • Do you think racism and race relations have changed since this depiction of 1992? If so, how?

Movie Details

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