The Day After

Areum has just been hired by the publisher Kim Bongwan. She replaces the boss's resigning secretary (and mistress!). This morning, well before dawn, Areum leaves the marital home to join her new office. On the way, she can't stop thinking about the woman who left. On the spot, she sets to work. At the same time, Haejoo, Kim's wife, finds a love letter that he had left lying around in one of his pockets. Exploding with rage, she goes to the office. Taking Areum for the accomplice of her unfaithful husband, she slaps her in the face...

One likes or dislikes Sang-soo Hong as one likes or dislikes Eric Rohmer. But if one is sensitive to the charm of a "conversation piece" type of cinema, one will appreciate this philosophical fable, delicately hidden under the attractive trappings of a pure marivaudage. Ironic evocation of the indecision in love, serious reflection on honesty and hypocrisy, unvarnished denunciation of male cowardice, many themes of the Korean director are gathered here. But Sang-soo Hong, closer to Marivaux than Bossuet, approaches these austere subjects with a lightness that is both caustic and good-natured. And it is well-known that smiles help moral and reflection go down. As for the direction itself, "The Day After" bears the indelible signature of its author, namely these long sequence shots where the protagonists talk and talk, laugh and laugh and drink soju by hectoliters. Such a technique gives once again Hong's favorite actors the opportunity to shine (the beautiful Kim Min-Hee and the cowardly Hae-hyo Kwon here getting the best part of the cake). However, there is no question of the Korean master resting on his laurels; on his agenda is also the exploration of new territories, such as the use of black and white as well as some interesting research on the dilation and retraction of time. "The Day After", an unprecedented example of pure style and joyful skepticism, is to be recommended ... to those who are not allergic to this kind of cinema.

It took me awhile to put together what was going on here with what came across to me as a convoluted film opening. But as this South Korean movie, written and directed by Hong Sang-soo, progressed it came more and more into focus.

Other reviewers have described the plot elements, so I'll say the film, on the whole, was a mixed bag for me. Dialogue driven with only a few characters throughout and beautifully shot in black and white, the movie could be amusing and quite engaging at times, but then could lapse into overwrought melodrama and philosophical babble as well.

All in all, as mentioned, mixed feelings for me here but I did find its poignant final minutes enhanced the film and brought it all together well.

This story has no beginning no end. The director connects the viewer at a certain moment. But this moment is random from the point of view of semantic load. So from the very beginning the film is not exciting, and so it goes until the end of the movie.

'The Day After' (Hangul: 그 후; RR: Geu-hu), is a partly interesting spaghetti of infidelity & romance. Written, Produced & Directed by Hong Sang-soo, 'The Day After' has some really arresting moments & a first-rate cast, but unfortunately, there isn't much in the film stands out.

'The Day After' Synopsis: The married Bongwan leaves home in the dark morning and sets off to work. The memories of the woman who left weigh down on him. That day Bongwan's wife finds a love note, bursts into the office, and mistakes Areum for the woman who left.

'The Day After' has amusing characters who cross paths, some by coincidence & some by circumstances. And some of the banter between the characters is fun & some really long scenes (done in a single take) hold your attention. But, overall. the film doesn't really leave an impression and thats mainly because the film doesn't leave you with anything. Its pretty decent till you watch it, but nothing about it really stands out. Its at best a watchable film, with some enjoyable moments.

Hong Sang-soo's Screenplay raises some genuine laughs & has some crackling dialogue too, but isn't strong enough to be called memorable. Hong Sang-soo's Direction is mature. He's handled a couple of sequences well. Cinematography & Editing are finely done.

Performance-Wise: Kwon Hae-hyo, Kim Min-hee, Kim Sae-byeok & Jo Yoon-hee, all are top-notch.

On the whole, 'The Day After' is a passable fare.

Geu-hu (2017) is a Korean movie shown in the U.S. with the title The Day After. The film was written and directed by Sang-soo Hong.

It stars Min-hee Kim as Song Areum, a young woman who begins her first day at work in a small publishing house. Unknown to her, the woman who held the job before she did was the married publisher's lover.

What follows is a French-style farce, with trysts, mistaken identity, and woman-on-woman violence. The publisher, who is at the center of all this, doesn't strike me as someone women would fight over. Because of this, the film didn't work for me.

We saw this film in its Rochester premiere at the wonderful Dryden Theatre at the George Eastman museum. It has a decent IMDb rating of 7.0. I don't believe it's as good as that. In any event, it will work as well on the small screen as it does on the large screen.