August 27, 2011

Christmas in August

I have just finished watching Christmas in August, a film that seems to belong to a most favoured genre in Korea: romance as lived in the mundane everyday life, narrated in a prose like style. Nothing catchy but the detailed delineation of those vivid in memories.

Contrast to its glossy television romance genre, the film one tends to feature a realistic look from settings to lighting, from the costume design to make-up etc. Though by and large employing the same pool of actors, they look more like your next door neighbours when they act on films.

But what really set this genre apart from their popular Hollywood counterparts is its narrative style; no conflict, no cinematic sensation, no particular camera movements that keep your head spinning.

It could feel like sipping a pot of lukewarm bland tea. For those who like the smell of it though, they would find residue of faint fragrance on their teeth for a few weeks to come.

Other works of such genre I have recently watched include:
A fine spring day (with sensual scenes especially when the protagonists are recording the sound of nature both in the bamboo forest and by the sea)
Once in a summer
Who are you?
Happiness
The bungee jumping of their own
April snow
Wanee and Junah
3-iron (an enigma with no dialogues between the two protagonists)

Not romance but in a similar narrative style:
My dear enemy
The way home
This charming lady

I am surprised by such a long list of films that resort mainly to the strength of the script and performance of the actors. It is a tell-tale sign that there is a critical mass of confident production team and performers who know their crafts well.

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