Oppa is a huge Roh Yoonseo fan. That's why this movie has long been on his list. We finally got the chance to watch it over the holidays. And while the plot is really simple, nothing grand, its simplicity evokes a certain kind of warmth that makes it worth watching. Warning though that the movie is quite "silent," with some characters having very limited to no speaking lines at all. So if you're not into those kinds of stuff, this might not be for you.
Plot
Yongjun (Hong Kyung of DP, Hotel Del Luna, and Live) is a young man who's unsure of what he wants to do with his life. His mom (Jung Hyeyoung of Law and the City, Reborn Rich, and Snowdrop) has been pressuring him to get a job. In the meantime, Yongjun is forced to work as a part-time delivery guy for the restaurant owned by his mom and dad (Hyun Bongsik of 1987: When the Day Comes, When Life Gives You Tangerines, Doctor Slump, Gyeongseong Creature, Narco Saints, Our Blues, and D.P.).
One of his deliveries was addressed to a swimming pool, where he saw Yeoreum (Roh Yoonseo of 20th Century Girl, Love Next Door, Crash Course in Romance, and Our Blues) helping her sister Gaeul (Kim Minju) train. The sisters communicated through sign language, which made Yongjun assume that both were non-verbal.
It was love at first sight for Yongjun and he actively pursued Yeoreum. Although hesitant to be too friendly in the beginning because of her numerous part time jobs coupled with the huge responsibility of caring for her sister, Yeoreum gives Yongjun a chance.
But that friendship or whatever you want to call it was short-lived. Gaeul was hospitalized due to smoke intoxication from a fire in the building they lived in. She struggled getting back in shape, which caused her to miss the national team qualifiers. Yeoreum blamed herself for not being there with her sister when the incident happened. She felt that she had to forgo her own happiness and relationships to prioritize her sister's well-being. Of course, her budding romance with Yongjun was the first casualty.
Although perplexed and probably hurt, Yongjun understood Yeoreum's predicament. He waited patiently for her to soften up. And thanks to Gaeul's pep talk to her sister, Yongjun didn't have to wait that long. Gaeul assured her sister that she's not giving up on swimming. She will keep on trying and Yeoreum does not have to keep a close eye on her. And that Yeoreum can live her life and dreams too.
Yeoreum and Yongjun are finally reunited with Yongjun bravely introducing her to his parents, who were both so nice and accommodating, writing down their spiels for Yeoreum's convenience because Yongjun told them she was non-verbal.
But we get a really cute plot twist in the end. as Yeoreum can actually hear and speak! Only Gaeul is non-verbal. And she thought Yongjun was non-verbal too because he kept on communicating with her through sign language. :)
Execution
I can't really say much because as mentioned, the movie is simple. And somehow its beauty lie in its simplicity.
The main actors all did splendid jobs acting through their eyes, faces, and bodies. I could feel their frustration with Yeoreum being all stiff with her guilt for her sister's accident, or Gaeul's long face when she saw her sister struggling about letting go of her love and dreams to take care of her, or Yongjun's sad eyes when Yeoreum said they should stop seeing each other. I loved how Yongjun's dad described everything perfectly - communication is not just about hearing and speaking. Sometimes, you can even communicate with your heart.
Yeoreum is the perfect example of how excessive selflessness is not too healthy. We should always strive to save some love for ourselves. That way, we won't regret anything, or worse, resent those we have chosen to be with for the love we've lost and opportunities we've missed.
Although Yongjun was first introduced as an immature guy, I appreciated how the film didn't turn him into a jerk. I loved how he patiently handled and understood Yeoreum's resistance. He knew she didn't break up with him to hurt him or because she didn't like him. He knew Gaeul was her priority. And I loved how he told her that because she cared for her family so much, she also needed someone to take care of her and he wanted to be that person for her.
Yes, the film may be classified as basic but that's probably why it comes across as something very organic and authentic.
Oppa says...5.
Noona says...4.7.