Movie Review by: Thomas Huong
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'Christmas In August' (Palweolui
Christmas) is a 1998 Korean film that has won numerous
awards including Official Selection of Critic's Week at the
Cannes International Film Festival and Best Film at the
Baeksang Arts Awards. It was directed by renowned Korean
director Hur Jin-Ho ('A Single Spark') and stars Han Suk-Kyu
and Shim Eun-Ha.
Normally critically acclaimed
films is just not my normal movie fare as I, like the rest of
the general viewing public, would prefer to watch more
commercially inclined productions, your typical mainstream
movies. However, in this case, I will have to say that
'Christmas In August' is definitely well worth a watch.
Jung-Won (Han Suk-Kyu) is a
happy young man who runs a small photo shop in Seoul. However,
he learns that he is terminally ill and does not have long to
live. Thus, he has to face the painful task of bidding
farewell to his family and friends. Things are further
complicated by the growing attraction between him and Da-Rim
(Shim Eun-Ha), a beautiful traffic cop who visits him daily to
develop snapshots of parking violations. He does not know how
to tell her that he is dying and that their time together is
very limited.
The theme here, that of
impossible love, has been explored countless times but in
director Hur Jin-Ho's capable hands, a new perspective and
refreshing angle has been brought into the story.
We see the apparent calm with
which Jung-Won received the news of his terminal illness and
in contrast, his sudden outbreaks of anguish at home and in
outings with his friends. We also see his agony when he
decides not to tell Da-Rim about his illness in the hope that
she would not have to share his pain. The story, told here in
a smooth and seamless way, is all too human and touching.
The acting here is simply
superb. Shim Eun-Ha does a great job of portraying the
strong-willed, forward and beautiful Da-Rim who feels
frustrated when one day, she arrives at Jung-Won's photo shop
only to find it closed down inexplicably. Han Suk-Kyu is
marvelous as the terminally ill Jung-Won, ably reaching out to
the viewers in expressing his anguished feelings.
However, the camera shots of
certain scenes in 'Christmas In August' irritated me slightly.
For example, at certain points in the movie, we see scenes of
Jung-Won sleeping that are too prolonged. And there are other
non-essential scenes that are prolonged as well, which just
leaves the viewer feeling bored.
Overall 'Christmas In August'
is a quiet, subtle and wonderful film that will leave an
impression on you, about a man who faces death and rejects the
love of a beautiful young woman to save her from the hurt of
his eventual demise. Truly touching and evocative.
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Jung-Won runs a small photo studio
and appears to be a happy young man. In reality, he is very
ill and his time on earth is limited. Da-Rim is a traffic cop,
who visits his studio daily to print shots of traffic
violations and she is clearly attracted to him. As his health
gradually deteriorates, he is faced with the painful duty of
bidding farewell to his family, friends, the studio and to Da-Rim.
