Movie Digest
A collection of five vignettes from writer and director Lee Hyeon Ji, and Gun Wook. Each vignette tells us a wonderful story with beautiful characters.
Once in a Lifetime:
The story looks at Taku who travels a way to pass the time. He has one rule, to remember these trips via one roll of film for one trip. Watch as he remembers his one film roll in Seoul.
Ill-Fated Relationship:
Cheong-il had a tough childhood as a child smuggled by Korean-Chinese parents. His father was very abusive towards him but he believed that he was God and it needed to happen. However, once he learns of his father’s true intentions he decides to commit suicide and goes out to the street to find someone to die with.
Thanks:
Jeon-Sik is tired of being a salesman and tired of his monotonous life. But one day, he receives a strange call from work from an unknown number. He listens to the speaker talk about a story of a young girl and suspects it to be voice phishing. But who is behind that call?
Cafe and Cigarette:
An encounter between a cafe owner, the employee, and three customers leads to a conversation where they have nothing in common but coffee and cigarettes. Meanwhile, it is a very lucky day for Geon-Wook, a taxi driver.
Eyes Wide Shut:
At dinner, newlyweds Heyon-Joon and Da-Yeong have an awkward exchange where they do not say anything to each other. The couple proceeds and heads off to bed where Da-Yeong says that she’s pregnant. But something is not adding up. Hyeon-Joon is infertile and Da-Yeong is unaware of who she married.
The Feel-Good Part
These stories are amazing. There are great depth and emotionally charged moments to keep you engaged. The vignette format allows you to enjoy the whole film in bite-sized pieces. The stories range in intensity but stand on their own and give off themes that are relatable and wonderful to watch. None of the stories feels like a second-hand thought. They are all emotionally charged and beautifully told stories.
The Disappointing Factor
This movie would have worked better as a mini-series or an anthology drama. Lee Hyeon Ji and Lee Gun Wook are talented writers and directors so it would be impressive to see more from them. But regardless, even the little that we get from them is enough to make us appreciate how great and thoughtful their craft is.
In-Depth Analysis
Each story has a specialized theme but they all fall under the umbrella of trying to get over a difficult time in life. We have a story of losing time, a story of an abusive father, a story of uncertainty, a story of comradery, and a story of falling out of love. Each story looks at what a person goes through and how they rationalize their next steps. Each person is different and each story is different.
Star Power
The stand-out roles in the film come in the form of Yang Jae Hyun who plays Taku in Once in a Lifetime, and Han Yang Hee who plays Da Yeong in Eyes Wide Shut. Taku’s portrayal in the film is an interesting one as we see him relieve the moments in his life where he was the happiest. Yang Jae Hyun can deliver the performance with lots of grace and emotion that suit the film perfectly. Yang Jae Hyun starred in several projects such as On the Verge of Insanity and 404 Not Found. Hang Yang Hee delivers an impressive performance as a wife who feels no love but has to bring a new life into existence. With this description, she provides a beautiful performance that is tear-jerking and intense. Han Yang Hee has also starred in the film Love Buzz. The two main star powers however are the directors and writers Lee Hyeon Ji and Lee Gun Wook. Lee Hyeon Ji and Lee Gun Wook’s style of storytelling and directing is impeccable and with projects such as We’re Not Good at Parting, it will be interesting to see where they end up next and what they will produce next.
Overall Opinion
There is a lot to choose from in the film. It is creatively, well-thought-out, masterfully shot, and ranges in intensity depending on what you are looking for. It is truly a must-watch film.
