Stream Classics to Latest K-Movies & Shows at OnDemandKorea

[HanCinema's Film Review] "A Lonely Island in the Distant Sea"

The concept of how disconnected parents are from their children in the last two generations in S. Korea is a topic that has been "tormenting" local cinema for many years. Usually, however, the parents shine through their absence, with the consequences of not having time to deal with their children being the ones mostly portrayed. In the same topic, Kim Mi-yeong directs a film that strays away from this standard, by equally focusing on the parents, and particularly the father of a teenage daughter.

Advertisement

Seong Yoon-cheol won the Young Sculptor Award in his 20s but his life did not exactly fulfill his potential. Now in his 40s, he is divorced and makes a living by commercial work, such as crafting replicas. One day, he is called in to his daughter's highschool, after the faculty objects on some of her drawings, which happened to be placed on the school's curtains. Yoon-cheol realizes that Gi-na has inherited his talent, but also that his neglect has caused her a number of problems, not to mention the ones caused on social media by her best friend. Furthermore, and as the school wants Gi-na to take a break, she also seems to be fed up with this type of normality, eventually wishing to become a monk. Yoon-cheol, who also indulged the thought when he was young, is not sure how to handle the situation, while at the same time, he starts dating independent-minded history lecturer Young-ji. Eventually, the girl decides to actually join a monastery, and her father to follow her, although not exactly as a monk himself. Gradually, their relationship starts to heal, although not without tribulations.

Kim Mi-yeong split his movie into two parts, with Gi-na entering the monastery functioning as the dichotomy. In that fashion, the first part deals with the issues parents face with their children, which, in the case of Yoon-cheol, seem to derive from his personal ones, and particularly the fact that he prefers to sulk and be passive instead of doing anything to change his situation. His daughter's issues, which extend to the ones deriving from her friend, but also her inability to adapt to the school environment, seem to be an extension of her father's problems and her parents' relationship, with Kim being quite pointed in the particular comments.

The second part changes rhythm completely, as much as the protagonists change hairstyle, with the pace being much more mellow, and the whole dialogue-heavy approach reminding intently of Hong Sang-soo's style, even though without the alcohol, whose lack in this case, is actually part of the narrative. The way Yoon-cheol manages to stay close to his daughter, and the way what the head monk tells him changes him, are quite interesting to watch, as much as the metastrophe Gi-na undergoes towards him. The comment however, is somewhat vague, since one could say that both that extreme problems demand extreme solutions (in this case a daughter going to a monastery and her father following her) and that the turn to Buddhism can be an alternative are highlighted as viable solutions here. Lastly, the comments regarding artistry and the overall knack for art being passed on from father to children is an interesting one, that one could say also moves into Buddhistic paths.

The issue with the film, however, is that the intense differences between the two paths make it quite evident that the first part is quite more interesting, with the lack of tension in the second not helping it at all. The difference is so intense, that one could say that these were supposed to be two films, which eventually were merged into one for feature's sake.

On the other hand, the acting is quite good here. Park Jong-hwan as Yoon-cheol depicts nicely how he has given up and how he finds himself trying again for the sake of his daughter. Lee Yeon plays the rebellious teen that gradually mellows with gusto, while their chemistry is excellent throughout.

DP Lee Jin-keun captures the school and urban environment with a certain bleakness, particularly in the coloring, while brightness seems to dominate the second part. Kim Mi-yeong's own editing results in a relatively fast pace in the first part and a slow in the second one, both of which seem fitting to the particular aesthetics.

With the exception of the difference between the two parts, there is nothing wrong about "A Lonely Island in the Distant Sea', and even that, is not that a significant fault. At the same time, there is also nothing great about it, which essentially deems it another Korean indie that will probably soon be forgotten.

Review by Panos Kotzathanasis

___________

"A Lonely Island in the Distant Sea" is directed by Kim Mi-yeong, and features Park Jong-hwan, Lee Yeon, Kang Kyung-hun, Park Hyun-sook, Jang Joon-hwi, Chung Su-bin. No release date in Korea yet.

❎ Try Ad-free