A Korean slow, moody film set in Thailand, this film had decent story but the treatment, editing and the direction of the film leaves a lot to be desired. As individuals we all are dealing with some sort of baggage in life, some accept it and some prefer to deal with it. This film focuses on three such individuals who are interconnected and how they are dealing with a trauma that joins them.
Min-ki has just arrived to Thailand to look for his brother's boyfriend Jae-hee. We are told through series of flashbacks that Min-kiss brother was harassed a lot by his seniors in military. He couldn't take it anymore and committed suicide. Min-ki believes that had Je-hee been there for his brother, the outcome would have been different. Jae-hee on the other hand is spending time in Pattaya with his sick step-brother who is soon going to die. The trio just get into a weird dynamic where Min-Ki wants Jae-hee to apologize but he wouldn't. Eventually Min-ki realizes that what his brother did was not Jae-hee's fault who loved his brother very much. This all happens with the support of step-brother who confides with Min-ki that he loves his brother but wouldn't do anything. He goes on ending his life asking Jae-hee that Min-ki would make him happy, so he should go find him and be with him forever. The film has a happy/sad ending.
There are a lot of issues with this film. To begin with, the beginning and the ending is both pretty random. IN the first scene we see Min-ki arrives in Bangkok, Jae-hee sees him, follows him and then grabs him and kisses him hard fo Ron reason in a drunken state. What was that about? Similarly, Min-ki was only there to confront his brother's lover. How and when did the duo get any chemistry to be possible lovers. The fact that Jan-see was able to track down Min-ki in the climax right from Pattaya to Bangkok in the exact spots is just mind boggling. Of course, these are cinematic liberties but come on, please make it slightly believable at least. Lot of disjointed scenes were put together, where one minute they are fighting, other minute something else is happening. This film would have been much more sharper and crispier as a short 30 minute story and would have created a better impact. The actors are good looking and act really well but he overall story and screenplay are a huge letdown here. The film never really explored into why Min-ki's brother really committed suicide and could that have been prevented with love or whatever. The title of the film alludes to the surrounding of Pattaya and how the city, the beach and the air brought the three individuals together, who are all a mess in their own ways.
Its a very slow film and really doesn't have much to offer. It's ok to skip this one for something more interesting. (4/10)
Comments