A fiction show about a Korean American son (Joel Kim Booster) who wants to come out to his mom (Esther Moon), but can't because they don't speak the same language.
Moonface is a gorgeous treatise on communication, on the assumptions we make about one another, on the shame of not knowing one's mother tongue or history, on chafing against being a stereotype, and on not putting our loved ones first. But most of all it is a wonderful tribute to the sacrifices of parents for their children.
Moonface has been getting a ton of press lately, and rightly so. This is a great example of what audio dramas can do so well: tell specific, personal, immersive stories--especially ones that aren't well-represented in mainstream media. It really speaks to how well written this show is given how the story and characters are not just legible but deeply compelling, despite the fact that there's no narration and no introduction. Story structure, sound design, voice acting--everything is just really well done here. One of my favorite listens of 2019.
Moonface is an incredibly personal story told in an incredibly immersive fashion. It stands as a great example of what audio fiction can be to anyone who might be skeptical.
Podcast list by Anne Baird
