Enemies-to-Lovers Tale Turns Into a Beautiful, Slow-Burn Romantic Drama — Review

Good romances are hard to come by, especially in this day and age. It feels like every year, we are grieving the heyday of ‘90s and early 2000s that gave us masterpieces like Before Sunrise, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and In the Mood for Love — tales that made us swoon and broke our hearts in equal measure. Writer/director Stephanie Ahn is doing her part to bring that kind of film back with her debut feature, Bedford Park, through a Korean-American lens.

What Is ‘Bedford Park’ About?

Image via Sundance

Bedford Park first introduces us to Audrey (Moon Choi), an unfulfilled physical therapist who tries to fill the void in her life by having kinky, meaningless sex. She’s haunted by her difficult childhood, having grown up with a demanding mother obsessed with appearances and a strict alcoholic father, who still resents the fact that immigrating from the US to Korea meant losing his career. If that weren’t enough, Audrey also stresses about her irresponsible brother and struggles with the fact that she’s unable to have kids.

We then meet Eli (Son Sukku), a thirty-something community college student who spends his days looking out for his elderly neighbors and hooking up with his younger classmate. Eli had a rough upbringing as well, having been taken in by a white family after his mother died at the age of 10. A talented wrestler, Eli gave up on his athletic dreams after an accident caused by his abusive father and brother figures, leaving him aimless and attempting to hide from his painful past, including his young daughter.

After Eli gets into a car accident involving Audrey’s mother, the two of their worlds collide. Going back home to help care for her mom, Audrey is thrown back into the environment that traumatized her, and Eli’s detached ways are tested when he’s forced to communicate with Audrey and her family to resolve the insurance issues. Through all the obstacles, however, there’s a chance that this suboptimal situation will turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Aubrey and Eli have similar wounds, after all — together, they might just be able to begin healing them.

‘Bedford Park’s Strongest Aspect Is Its Sensitive, Slow-Burn Romance

The dynamic between Audrey and Eli is by far the most compelling part of the film, employing the enemies-to-lovers trope to great effect. Their first meeting comes when Audrey’s mother insists on bringing a fruit basket to Eli — an act of generosity that makes him instantly suspicious that she’s trying to unfairly shirk some of the responsibility onto him and avoid paying any damages. Maintaining that he was innocent in the accident, he refuses the gesture, which infuriates Audrey’s mother and ends with Audrey tossing the fruit on his door and smashing it on his windows. It’s a much-needed moment of levity and comedy as much as it is a catharsis — Choi does an excellent job of depicting the long-marinating frustration and rage simmering under Audrey’s surface, so any moment it’s allowed to be released feels therapeutic.

Their relationship, however, soon turns into something softer and more intimate when Audrey has a medical emergency during a confrontation at his house, forcing her to be more vulnerable and him to step up and care for her. Touched by the kindness — and needing to get out of the suffocating setting of her house — Audrey volunteers to act as Eli’s chauffeur while his car is out of commission. It’s then that they begin to find their common ground and support one another.

Their chemistry is the soft and quiet type — the kind that doesn’t always need words. In fact, the most beautiful moments are the silent ones, like when they’re listening to a song in the car or when Eli touches Audrey to demonstrate a wrestling move. The beats of jealousy, while easily overdramatized in some films, are refreshingly real and grounded here, and the conversations where they bond over their shared culture serve to deepen both the dynamic as well as the film’s voice. Audrey and Eli’s connection hits even harder once some history between the two is revealed via flashbacks, making it seem as if destiny and fate are at play.

‘Bedford Park’ Presents Many Interesting Ideas but Doesn’t Develop Them Deeply Enough

Image via Sundance

Bedford Park introduces several interesting subplots, from Audrey’s suppressed passion for photography to Eli’s daughter and relationship with his family, but the film doesn’t devote enough time to developing them. The ending hinges on us being invested in these storylines, but because they’re thinly sketched, the conclusion ends up coming off as rushed and not altogether satisfying. While the flashbacks are crucial in giving us some key background information, the fact that they’re all presented in a chunk towards the beginning of the film instead of being spread more evenly throughout makes them feel a little random and rather obviously telegraph a reveal at the end.

While the subtlety in how the characters process their emotions is authentic, considering their upbringing and the topics of self-harm are handled accurately, and with nuance and care, I found myself craving more conversations between Audrey and Eli concerning parenthood. Though Audrey’s fertility struggles are clearly a sore spot, we don’t know if motherhood itself is something she is truly mourning and desiring. Though a relatively absent dad, Eli visibly cares for his daughter and tries to be there for her in his own ways, but we don’t see him outwardly grapple with how his own biological and adoptive paternal figures impacted this. Bedford Park is interested in exploring how generational trauma impacts its protagonists, so not leaning harder into these particular conversations and topics feels like a missed opportunity.

Ahn’s feature debut is ultimately a beautiful, sensitive love story showcasing the healing power of unexpected human connection. Anchored by Choi and Sukku’s understated, confident performances, it’s a quiet gem of a film that is sure to resonate with those who need it most. While slightly underdeveloped in areas, it’s still a lovely, moving way to spend two hours.

Bedford Park premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

Release Date January 24, 2026

Runtime 121 minutes

Director Stephanie Ahn

Writers Stephanie Ahn

Producers Chris S. Lee, Gary Foster, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Russ Krasnoff, Son Suk-ku, Theresa Kang-Lowe

Cast

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Pros & Cons

• The romance between Audrey and Eli is developed beautifully, going from a comical enemies-to-lover situation to something sensitive and deep.
• Moon Choi and Son Sukku have excellent chemistry, making their dynamic believable.
• The conversations around Korean-American identity are refreshing and authentic.

• Some of the subplots feel underdeveloped.
• The film misses an opportunity by not diving more deeply into how generational trauma affects the characters as parents.