The Square (2026)

Movie Review

Score: 4 / 5

A Korean animated film that made a strong impression on the festival circuit last year has finally arrived in Korean theaters. Though we’re only a few weeks into January, I already feel confident that The Square will land among my top ten Korean films of the year.

While Korean animation is highly regarded worldwide, it remains rare for a full-length animated feature to receive a proper theatrical release. Following its successful festival run, I was eager for general audiences to finally experience what the critics have been praising.

I first saw the film at the Seoul Independent Film Festival, and it hit me far harder than I expected. At its center is a forbidden romance between a Swedish diplomat and a North Korean traffic officer. The Pyongyang setting is deeply intriguing, but the city functions as more than a backdrop of isolation; it is a source of constant tension that presses in on every interaction. This atmosphere makes the fleeting moments of tenderness feel fragile and hard-won, giving the story genuine emotional stakes. The film truly shines in this contrast between the friction of public rigidity and private intimacy.

At a slim 74 minutes, every scene carries enough weight to ensure the narrative never feels slight or underdeveloped. Interestingly, the film’s compositions are built from real footage shot inside North Korea, lending the animation a grounded sense of realism. Some of this footage was captured by my friend Bart (of IGOBart) during his trip to Pyongyang, and it provides a rare, tactile window into an otherwise inaccessible space.

Beyond the unique setting, The Square remains accessible because of its deeply human core. It has clear potential to resonate with international audiences by humanizing an environment often viewed only through a political lens. Without ignoring the oppressive reality of its world, the film insists on showing how love, friendship, and community can persist within it.뷰