April Snow

South Korean director Hur Jin Ho is unique. At a time when most of the Korean directors are making more or less violent, thriller films,he has decided to follow his own path. This can make viewers aware that as a filmmaker he likes to do something different. That is why he likes to make romantic films. This is fine as 2 of his previous films "Christmas in August", "One fine spring day" have been very soft,lovely,a bit melodramatic and pure romantic films. This is also the case of "April Snow". It is a film which would immensely appeal to both boys as well as girls.Yeah, it would captivate married people too.The film is a pure reflection on what love is. Of course, love experienced under normal circumstances is good. However any kind of love experienced under pain,bitterness, trouble or hardship is the truest,everlasting love and is pure in all its form. This is the main premise of this film. For those who have seen "In the mood for love" by Wong Kar Wai there is something in store. What it is ? Just go and watch this film.

This film's presence is simple but effective: After hearing that two people, a man and a woman, were involved in a very serious car accident, their respective spouses rush to the hospital. They find out that these two people were having an affair. Since they had to stay in a hotel while their spouses remain in comas, they see each other all the time and eventually begin having their own affair. The good thing about this film is how director Jin-ho Hur makes this not only believable a premise but also makes it seem completely natural. However, he needed good actresses to make his vision work and he found them: Yong-joon Bae plays the husband of the crash victim and the quite pretty (actually, both are good looking)Ye-jin Son the wife. Both take this necessarily slow moving film to a very dangerous but somehow natural place. The film has a refreshing subtlety, and the film is shot beautifully, great cinematography. While not a great film, it certainly conveys the themes of sadness, betrayal and eventually lust quite well. I would recommend this, it kept my interest throughout.

Take IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE but have the protagonists meet when their spouses are in a serious car crash, don't be so bloody obtuse about the whole thing, and you're on way to making APRIL SNOW. Writer/director Hur Jin-Ho is certainly not a cheerful chap, with his trilogy of seasonally-named films each taking a depressing scenario and quietly exploring the characters' pain... yet somehow his films don't end up actually being depressing. The situation could easily lend itself to melodrama (and the soundtrack seems like it wants to go there), but the characters and emotions feel too real and natural.

Although the plot of the film is essentially very predictable, it's all about the details... the unassuming direction places the actors in the spotlight - a light that pierces right into the characters, and requires superb performances from the cast. Luckily Bae Yong-Joon and the gorgeous Son Ye-Jin are capable of delivering exactly that.

Very well crafted and enjoyable, though not so innovative as ONE FINE SPRING DAY.

'Oechul' takes a premise that may seem forced and elevates it to a heartfelt yet very sober movie. One of the strongest points is precisely the subtle treatment of highly dramatic events so that they feel closer to reality. Feelings are captured in a natural way that allows for their complexity to shine through.

All this goes into exploring the psychology of multi-layered characters. Torn between loyalties and wounded by betrayal, the main couple is placed in a highly stressful situation. Restrain and painful outbursts are tensely balanced. The budding relationship evolves with the natural flow of the cinematography, with increasingly intimate moments assisted by smart camera work.

There are also scenic shots of great beauty and an interesting play on outside scenes and inside ones. It all invokes an atmosphere charged with human emotion in which love is believable as a struggle for happiness. With a brilliant conclusion that ties in the title of 'April Snow' to the story, 'Oechul' is not to be missed and especially recommended to fans of romance that is true to life.

After a long time I've seen a romance movie that does not seem like a piece of fiction to me.. what I love the most about this movie is the development of the relationship between the two people.. the way their budding relation evolved taking time & patience was convincingly believable.. and also that how perfectly their body languages were in harmony with their intimacy level at that particular stage of their relationship..

Dialogs are few and one needs to pay attention to so many subtle details in each and every scene.. the psychology of multi-layered characters torn between contradictory sentiments, their restrain and painful outbursts and a struggle for solace.. the delicate treatment of highly dramatic events and complex emotions make it feel so close to reality..

Throughout the movie there is an air of melancholy that never lifts till the end.. filmed in muted colors, aided by the heartrending soundtrack accompanied with a more than perfect use of silence.. one feels like a quiet observer of their sadness.. perhaps some people may find it boring because of its slow pace and few dialogs but for me this is the most preferred and adored setting for a romantic movie for sure..