Korea Path

[trevor826]

Art Museum by the Zoo (199 Misulgwan Yup Dongmulwon

Directed by Jeong-hyang Lee (The Way Home)

Starring Shim Eun-ha (Christmas in August), Lee Sung-jae (Public Enemy)

A light romantic drama that could easily have been named “The Misfits” or any one of a dozen other names.

On taking some leave from the army, Chul-su (Lee Sung-jae) returns to the apartment he shares with Da-Hye only to find she left the apartment and him 2 months earlier for another man. Instead he finds a new tenant, Chun-Hi (Shim Eun-ha), who works filming weddings and is an aspiring screenwriter. Circumstances decree that for his leave, they will have to share the apartment which is where the fun begins.

They are completely different from each other; she is messy, disorganised and a dreamer, he is loud, gruff but very tidy, certainly not a romantic. At first they do nothing but argue and irritate each other but over the long haul it’s a case of opposites attracting as he helps her (or should that be hinders) in completing a screenplay for a competition.

The original concept involves two storylines running consecutively, the couple forced into sharing the apartment and the couple in the screenplay. The imaginary or screenplay sequences are filmed in delicate but muted tones, at times just sepia and generally with a soft focus lens but there are times when paths cross between reality and fiction which all adds to the atmosphere.

A nice genial undemanding romantic drama with a touch of all to human comedy as this odd couple gradually fall for each other.

If there’s one genre that typifies Korean films over the last 10 years or so it’s the romantic drama for 20+’s, They generally appear to bring a unique idea to each one and this is a more than decent example.

The soundtrack is an eclectic mix of saxophone dominated easy going jazz and 90’s pop. If I'm honest I'd have to say I really disliked the music, although it made sense in the context of the film, for me it was like extracting teeth without anaesthetic, although I'm sure I would be in the minority on this point.

Like many others, it’s certainly not essential viewing but it’s a pleasurable way to spend an evening, recommended for those who enjoy quirky and original romances.

Cheers Trev.

No BBFC rating but probably PG.

Region 3 ntsc dvd available from EDKO.