Movie Digest
A young woman travels to Fukuoka, Japan, with a bookshop to meet a former university friend. His travel companion drifts through the plot as though travelling through a dream, while their reunion is haunted by past disputes.
The Feel-Good Part
The story in Fukuoka becomes lighter, more hopeful, but yet as mysterious as the first title. Zhang Lu captures the distinct experience of revisiting one’s past in his latest film, with all the compassion, hilarity, and anxiety that comes with it. Long conversations at the pub, city strolls, and seemingly supernatural occurrences bind the characters and the audience in a shared dream.
The Disappointing Factor
It is never explained why she has no trouble communicating with the Chinese and Japanese characters despite not speaking either language, why she wears a high school uniform at the age of 21, how she can accurately judge the character of someone she has just met, or why did she kept on dragging Je-moon to Fukuoka in the first place throughout the film.
In-Depth Analysis
So-dam (Park So-dam) and Jea-moon (Park So-moon) are the two main characters in the film (played by Yoon Jea-moon). Jea-moon, who owns an ancient bookstore in Korea, is having a dull day until So-dam recommends that they visit Fukuoka, Japan. Jea-moon runs into Hae-hyo, who owns a tavern in the area. They haven’t seen each other over 20 years as they both liked a girl named Soon.
They snarl at each other again, but after chatting for days and with the help of So-dam, who acts as a communication bridge between them, they begin to become friends again. Incomprehensible events give imagination to this otherwise realistic film. In the film, Hae-hyo encounters an elderly person who died two years ago, and So-dam speaks Korean while understanding Japanese and Chinese.
Star Power
Actor and activist Kwon Hae-hyo (“Gangbyeon Hotel” 2018) and Yoon Jae-moon (“High Society” 2018) play the male roles. Both actors are relishing the opportunity to emerge in the spotlight after previously playing primarily supporting roles. They build a bonded community on screen with Park, and the acting gives a pleasant mood to the sequences that is transferred to the spectator.
Overall Opinion
The city of Fukuoka is built in the shape of a dreamy circle. Finally, you wonder if it was all a dream or a trick of the light. By leaving gaps in the script, Zhang Lu plays with the audience’s perceptions. Some things are never explained fully and must be taken at face value. This, however, is not a negative aspect. This, more than anything else, is what makes “Fukuoka” so captivating.
