AT THE MOVIES
"There also seems to be a deeper message of how family is an ongoing journey rather than a destination. This is a message anyone can appreciate regardless of their ancestry or cultural background."
THAT MOMENT IN
"An honest and understated effort focused on a generation gap that often leaves this a touching and enlightening experience…. Highly recommended.."
YNOTMOVIES
"Superbly directed by Julian Kim and Peter S. Lee, "Happy Cleaners" tells an authentic and heartfelt story about a Korean family that deals with such conflicts while strengthening the family bond. "
FLICKERING MYTH
"A sensitively drawn account of the trials and tribulations of the immigration experience, and the first generation Korean-American millennials who struggle with their parent’s backgrounds, Happy Cleaners brings an objective focus to modern American city life."
FILMLEAF
"Happy Cleaners is about generational conflict, immigrant insecurity, and ultimately of how an immigrant family, despite everything, pulls together…. A film as delicately nuanced in its depiction of generations as the work of the Japanese master, Yasujirō Ozu."
ORCA SOUND
"A duel purpose is fulfilled here. The voice of the Korean community across the United States gets screen time as well as the experience of all immigrant families."
THE KNOCKTURNAL
"Happy Cleaners is bittersweet examination of Korea-American life that will leave you feeling jaded and hopeful at the same time."
CAAM: RAVI CHANDRA
"There wasn’t a contrived or forced moment in HAPPY CLEANERS – newbie narrative screenwriters take note. "
ASIANCINEVISION: MICHELLE AHN
"They tell the truth that they know, and while they create to give back to a small community of Korean Americans in Flushing, New York, by doing so, they end up touching hearts outside their hometown as well."
MOVEABLEFEST
"Although others have told the story of children who have benefited from the sacrifices their parents made for them, but may feel repeating the same path as a waste of that freedom, Kim and Lee create a dynamic drama that feels fresh in exploring every angle with grace and nuance as the Chois are caught between the responsibility to each other and what’s best for their own personal growth, unsure of when is best to adhere to tradition or try something different."
UNSEEN FILMS
"This is a film that has a glorious lived in quality. It’s a quality that comes not just from the people behind the cameras having lived the story but those in front . Everything in his film is nigh on perfect with the result is a film that will leave you moved."
BUT WHY THO?
"Happy Cleaners is poignant and relatable but ultimately uplifting and a keen look at the lives of immigrant families."
ASIAN MEDIA INTERNATIONAL
"Gordon Yu’s skillfully gritty cinematography lends a realistic tone, stylistic approaches deliberately absent to fully convey the survivalist theme uniting the story’s two halves: the immigrant parents’ dream and sacrifice, and the differing dreams of their children in a challenging world."
POPAXIOM
"Surprisingly, one of the best parts of this film is its soundtrack....This movie, having no reliance on music in the story, uses music in a very interesting way to build the tone and pacing. With a less fitting accompaniment, the melodramatic elements easily could have become overwhelming.."
KOREADAILY
"90분이 넘는 상영 시간 내내 관객들을 웃고 울렸던 '해피클리너스'에는 어린시절 모두 한번 쯤은 부모님에게 들어봤을 애정어린 꾸중과 그리운 가족들을 떠올리게 하는 정감이 묻어나는 대사들이 많이 등장한다."
