A touching look at a continuous problem in Seoul Korea fuels this important poignant documentary on saving the lives of abandoned children. Well written and directed The Drop Box explores an anomaly of society and one man who stood tall to help reduce the problem. Even with the huge burden it brought upon him Dr. Lee Jong-rak still sticks to it to this day. Nicely put together by director Brian Ivie, the film takes you up close and personal into the unenviable life of a great man.
Hundreds of babies are forsaken on the streets of Seoul, Korea every year. Abandoned children have been getting overwhelmingly oppressive in the city with women leaving their unwanted children in alleys, dumpsters and on doorsteps. The women are deserting their responsibility of motherhood mostly because of medical disabilities they cannot afford, but also due to unwanted pregnancies. The problem is not unlike those in other countries where it has been getting out of hand, but in The Drop Box we find a Seoul Korea Christian pastor doing his part to save the children.
Finding newborn children on the doorstep of his church, Dr. Lee Jong-rak has been taking them in and giving them care. Mostly receiving children with disabilities like Down syndrome and physical birth defects, he has accepted the burden of keeping them healthy and giving them an opportunity to live out their lives. To make it safe for the women to give Dr. Lee their unwanted babies, he has installed a completely anonymous box to securely lay a baby inside. Called a Drop Box, it encloses the child in a safe environment then rings a bell so one of the volunteers can come to the baby’s aid.
Although other parts of the world have taken measures to give unwanted children a chance to live, here in Seoul Pastor Lee even raises those that have disabilities. When he gets a child that has no illness, he turns the baby over to health authorities where they are cared for until they find a family who will adopt them.
The Drop Box is a tell all, with nothing held back, on the ongoing problem. While some interviewees say that it allows for mothers to abandon their newborns without trying to take care of them, Dr. Lee has found that it’s more about saving a life that would not have had a chance for a future.
The Drop Box not been rated and contains no offensive material.
BONUS FEATURES:
“Behind the Scenes” extends the film to show how writer/director Brian Ivie was able to film it and bring it to the screen.
“Panel/Performance” at a special screening of the film a panel including Brian Ivie answer questions to the audience. Also present in the audience is Dr. Lee Jong-rak.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A close-up look at someone who has attacked an ongoing problem in the world. (B)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Pastor Lee Jong-rak
Director and writer: Brian Ivie
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Running Time: 1 hr. 17 min.
Original Theatrical Release Date: March 3, 2015
Video Release Date: July 7, 2015
Language: Korean and English with English Subtitles
Reviewed Format: DVD
Audio: Standard
Video: Widescreen for 16×9 Televisons
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Number of Discs: 1 Disc
Distributed by: Virgil Films
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
