Director- Jung Sung-il.This is the third film I have seen recently that features the city as a character. The other two are Playtime by Jacques Tati and All We Imagine As Light by Payal Kapadia.I watched this film only because Vilibazmio recommended it to me and called it to be in the same league if not better than Decision to Leave and Drive my Car, both films that I love.The film revolves around the protagonist, as he has several relationships, and how they push him further in his path.The intro of the film is one of the most interesting that I have seen with its burger-eating ASMR. It made me think that it was a mukbang film.The film has this quality of beating a dead dog more in a way that it isn't over the top but instead a bit subtler. It is because the protagonist isn't one to crib or cry a whole lot when facing situations that cause him sadness and are beyond his control.The runtime of this film is on the bigger side but it is quite accessible and easy to sit through without getting bored.The visuals of the film were great and the second half night sequences being shot in black and white were interesting and visually appealing. It also works as a nice contrast from the first half.The film's story is split into two parts, one is when the protagonist is in confusion about what to do, and the second half revolves around him coming to terms with his choices.The first half of the film revolves around the protagonist and his dealing with the husband of his lover returning. This makes the protagonist's nature appear dubious but once we learn about his abusive nature, we start supporting the protagonist. The daughter of his lover had some feelings for the protagonist, it may be of admiration but wouldn't be surprised if they are of something more.The [protagonist decides to ditch them both as well as a colleague who loves him but he doesn't reciprocate her feelings.The second half has him exploring a new city when he comes across a woman at night. She is alone and thus our protagonist approaches her as she interests him. We learn that she is waiting for someone to return after a year and beckons our protagonist to deliver a letter.The film sprinkles false hope in us when the letter isn't reciprocated but right at the last moment, our protagonist is alone again due to the person showing up.The film has some other sequences too which sprinkle false hope which makes this a bit sadder to watch. But still doesn't hinder our enjoyable experience. The film has an introspective quality to it as well due to the depth of the dialogue.The subject matter of this film could have very well been fit in an approximately two-hour runtime but even so, the film doesn't feature any wasteful excess scenes for the most part.The film works to deconstruct our entire notion of love and to where the line stretches. The film alienates us from the notion while pushing us towards it at the same time.The film is a daring endeavor more so because this was the director's debut work. But only an unpolished director could nail such a film to a degree that one might consider this as a magnum opus.The film features Christmas time and hence I look forward to watching this again at Christmas.One might consider this as Jung making this film catering to kitsch as was seen in Korean films due to Jung never really entering maximalism as a whole but still trying to instill quieter and more personal scenes as one sees in minimalism.The film appears to have been inspired by several filmmakers whose works I have previously explored, so he never put all his eggs in one basket i.e. style of one filmmaker. The ones I was reminded of by this film were Wong Kar Wai, Michaelangelo Antonioni, Hong Sang-Soo, and Tarkovsky. It does so with its romanticism.The reference to Oldboy was funny as well as pushed the plot further and hence was great.
Director- Jung Sung-il.This is the third film I have seen recently that features the city as a character. The other two are Playtime by Jacques Tati and All We Imagine As Light by Payal Kapadia.I watched this film only because Vilibazmio recommended it to me and called it to be in the same league if not better than Decision to Leave and Drive my Car, both films that I love.The film revolves around the protagonist, as he has several relationships, and how they push him further in his path.The intro of the film is one of the most interesting that I have seen with its burger-eating ASMR. It made me think that it was a mukbang film.The film has this quality of beating a dead dog more in a way that it isn't over the top but instead a bit subtler. It is because the protagonist isn't one to crib or cry a whole lot when facing situations that cause him sadness and are beyond his control.The runtime of this film is on the bigger side but it is quite accessible and easy to sit through without getting bored.The visuals of the film were great and the second half night sequences being shot in black and white were interesting and visually appealing. It also works as a nice contrast from the first half.The film's story is split into two parts, one is when the protagonist is in confusion about what to do, and the second half revolves around him coming to terms with his choices.The first half of the film revolves around the protagonist and his dealing with the husband of his lover returning. This makes the protagonist's nature appear dubious but once we learn about his abusive nature, we start supporting the protagonist. The daughter of his lover had some feelings for the protagonist, it may be of admiration but wouldn't be surprised if they are of something more.The [protagonist decides to ditch them both as well as a colleague who loves him but he doesn't reciprocate her feelings.The second half has him exploring a new city when he comes across a woman at night. She is alone and thus our protagonist approaches her as she interests him. We learn that she is waiting for someone to return after a year and beckons our protagonist to deliver a letter.The film sprinkles false hope in us when the letter isn't reciprocated but right at the last moment, our protagonist is alone again due to the person showing up.The film has some other sequences too which sprinkle false hope which makes this a bit sadder to watch. But still doesn't hinder our enjoyable experience. The film has an introspective quality to it as well due to the depth of the dialogue.The subject matter of this film could have very well been fit in an approximately two-hour runtime but even so, the film doesn't feature any wasteful excess scenes for the most part.The film works to deconstruct our entire notion of love and to where the line stretches. The film alienates us from the notion while pushing us towards it at the same time.The film is a daring endeavor more so because this was the director's debut work. But only an unpolished director could nail such a film to a degree that one might consider this as a magnum opus.The film features Christmas time and hence I look forward to watching this again at Christmas.One might consider this as Jung making this film catering to kitsch as was seen in Korean films due to Jung never really entering maximalism as a whole but still trying to instill quieter and more personal scenes as one sees in minimalism.The film appears to have been inspired by several filmmakers whose works I have previously explored, so he never put all his eggs in one basket i.e. style of one filmmaker. The ones I was reminded of by this film were Wong Kar Wai, Michaelangelo Antonioni, Hong Sang-Soo, and Tarkovsky. It does so with its romanticism.The reference to Oldboy was funny as well as pushed the plot further and hence was great.
