Huhwihaji anha

I just finished watching this movie and I don't have words to summarize the emotion it places on you, the roller coaster ride of ups and downs and twists. I have never seen anything like this movie. The last 30 minutes of this film is unlike anything I have ever seen or experienced in a movie in my entire life. The visuals of the last 30 minutes -- I've never seen anything like that -- I've never had that kind of emotional experience from a film. There are so many scenes in this movie that stay with you, that pull at you, that are universal. You don't need to be gay, or Korean, or anything like the characters in this film because the emotions and experiences are universal, shared by everyone.

It is a must see. Do not doubt for a moment the payback you will receive from locating, buying and spending two hours with this movie.

If anyone connected to this movie's distribution or production is reading this -- please put out a high definition version of the DVD. Please!

I was very surprised at the quality of this film. Script, direction and performances were superb. It is a gritty, often violent romance between two young men of different classes and the love that almost destroys them.

Su-Min is an 18 year old orphan who comes to the city of Seoul, Korea to find work so that he can put himself through college and gain an education. He works at a variety of jobs, one of which is a car service. Here he meets the tortured Jae-Min Song, a wealthy closeted young man, who is trapped by his parents into a soon to be heterosexual wedding.

Jae-Min falls hard for Su-Min, who rejects him because of his contempt for the rich and careless. When Su-Min loses his jobs, he turns to a life of prostitution in an all-male brothel, where Jae-Min tracks him down as a client, only further gaining Su-Min's contempt.

It is Jae-Min's true love and constant pursuit of Su-Min that finally wins him over. The jaded Su-Min allows himself to return the love, but the road to happiness is paved with many pitfalls, all arising out of the class hatred and opposite backgrounds of the two protagonists.

The film's first half occurs almost always at night in murky and oftentimes unpleasant locations. When love blossoms it is all sunlight playing over naked bodies. Then night falls once again.

The script is very believable in depicting the conflicts of the main characters, although it has some plot continuity problems at times. The subtitles are poorly written and spelled, but one can grasp what is happening at all times.

Both Lee Young-hoon as Su-Min and Kim Nam-gil as Jae-Min turn in extraordinary emotional performances - every nuance from elation to grief is superbly expressed. Director-writer Leesong Hee-il in his first feature has the firm control over every detail of a veteran film director and does an astonishing job here.

This is the best gay-themed film to come out of Asia and the Pacific Islands thus far and is close to masterpiece status. One of the great film experiences for gay audiences.

This movie gave me one of those very rare and difficult to describe experiences, where I was completely riveted during the film, then literally ecstatic afterward thanks to the artistic brilliance on display here. I saw it at the San Francisco Frameline film festival 6/07. Maybe my experience was personal, and maybe I just enjoyed the movie more than anyone in the audience that night, I really can't say. But wow! I wanted to jump for joy when it was over. So unique, inventive, fascinating, unexpected, beautifully acted (beautiful in all senses of the word), and with direction so insanely brilliant it was a gift to this movie lover. There are some great films coming out of S. Korea; this is one. See it if you can.

I saw this movie at PIGLFF (Philadelphia film festival). It was an incredible movie and I am so glad that it finally made it to DVD. It is one of the best GLBT Asian films to come out in the past 5 years. I judge a movie on whether it is worth paying full price/matinée/Netflix/"can't give it away" and this movie is definitely worth paying full price to watch. Some may comment it is over the top but American viewers have to remember that Asian sensibilities and their respective story lines are different. This movie is so worth watching and enjoying. I will admit the movie is a bit slow in parts but the overall product is highly satisfying. The actors do an amazing job especially the main protagonist, Lee Su-Min (played by the very cute Lee Young-Hoon). To get the full effect of this movie or any sub-titled movie, it is worth watching twice to capture anything that you miss. You won't be disappointed in watching this!

An orphan's love story with a son of rich businessman. This is not unusual, but I like the character of su-min, he is very natural as a straight-acting gay guy. The depiction of the sea landscape is also very representative of the story. And when the story was almost slided by a korean twist of thriller, i held my breath. Then it turns out ok. Well, I was hoping something in between of suspense and happy-ending drama, though.