Misseu Hongdangmu

Crush and Blush 2008

Directed by Lee Kyoung-mi

Right near the beginning of Crush and Blush, the main character Mi-seok stands digging a deep hole in a schoolyard. I thought that it was a punishment used in South Korean schools, but if not it could be a visual metaphor for someone digging themselves deeper into a figurative hole. That's what happens to Mi-seok in this film, as she digs herself deeper and deeper into a very messy situation.

Crush and Blush is a wonderful comedy directed by Lee Kyoung-mi, and shown in London for the 11th Korean Film festival. After the blood spattered, male-dominated journey into hell that was Asura, it was a relief to enjoy the company of a slightly awkward but very likable teacher who has a crush on one of the staff, the same teacher who taught her when she was a pupil at the school several years earlier.

Lee Mi-seok has an embarrassing facial disorder which causes her to blush whenever she is nervous or tells a lie. She teaches Russian at Girls' high school but is forced to change to English in favour of a more attractive and younger teacher who is having an affair with her colleague Jong Cheol. Things become even more complicated when Mi-sook teams up with his daughter who wants to stop her parents divorcing. Soon they are using the science lab to send online messages as Jong-cheol to Lee You-ri. As this goes on they start to form a friendship with each other that is touching and sweet.

I've seen several Korean comedies and sometimes the humour is lost in translation: for example, characters acting in self-consciously zany, wacky or plain stupid ways that are never psychologically believable. But although the comedy in Crush and Blush is awkward, sometimes painfully so, it's believable because the characters are acting in ways they think of as normal, however bizarre their actions appeared to us.

There is a lovely cameo from Jae-woo Bae as a Dermatologist who must listen to Mi-seok's laundry list of romantic problems: "If I don't call him for a reason, how will he know I'm not calling him for a reason?"

It was easy to relate to what Mi-seok was feeling as she tried to hide her feelings for Jong- cheol whilst preventing any more closeness developing between the other teacher. The relationship between the teacher and pupil was touching and tender. I can count on one hand the number of good films about female friendships. But watching them conspire to break up the affair was superb, inspired and witty stuff.

I thought about the role of teaching too. In some ways the adult Miseok is less mature than the younger school girl who comes up with the hilarious messages to send to Joeng-cheol. These messages get very graphic (although there is no sex in this film) and it seems as though the girl has a far deeper knowledge of sexual experiences than Mi-seok.

There was some cruel humour too which you often find in Korean films. For example, characters are called 'losers' and poor Mi-seok is labeled as 'reds' by her pupils for her hot-flushes. It seems that bullying in Korean schools is endemic. And there is the perception that Miseok is seen as being unattractive because she is not physically perfect in every way, especially when seen next to the conventionally beautiful Yoo-ri.

As a comedy, it was great. It also went deeper and was a great character study. Lee Kyoung-mi has recently directed The Truth Beneath, which opened the London Korean Film Festival. It would be fascinating to watch both films side by side.

The scenario is so good! Anyone can be found in one or another of the characters, with a great empathy, I think so. For a comedy, the script have a little shadow of tragic, consequently enough to amaze us with bold, funny, great dialogues. If the dialogues deserves a few positive adjectives, the acting deserves tens. The main actresses plays their roles perfectly, in the most realistic way; you may forget that you see a movie. All the gestures of Yang Mi-sook (Kong Hyo-jin), of nervousness, of embarrass, of guilt or joke, finally, are prodigious. I'm impressed how the director (and the writer) Lee Kyoung-mi managed to film, to point out, all that wonderful gestures; plus that amazing face of Kong Hyo-jin. And it's not only the actress Kong Hyo-jin; are the faces filmed over the computers in sending messages (Seo Woo, Hwang Woo S.H.), the pointed out of the back and the underwear of Yang's competitor, all that little movements, but so suggestive, marvelous. The director present us a wonderful show, without a trace of feminism. I found so much equidistance in this movie. The images; some of them are really unforgettable even, to say, for a close-up filming technique. And that photo from first, is remarkable, an icon. Great work.

This is a thoughtful Korean comedy, slightly risqué, that wins with wit, good acting, and a good (award winning) screenplay filled with surprises. (Park Chan-wook's got a co-write credit.) A number of times it will set you up to dare it to go somewhere, then it will go there and you'll applaud the way it's handled, delicately. There is mildly adult humor in the presence of a child so delicacy is warranted. Props to young actress Woo Seo for taking it all in stride, reminding us that kids are usually hip to the things adults think they should be protected from. Hyo-jin Kong, as the frumpy high school teacher who blushes easily, is surprisingly accomplished in her comic timing, often acting in a meta-aware fashion to her surroundings. The director seems aware of all the cheap ways to make us laugh but instead of utilizing them he steps back and winks at them. This is smart and funny ... not a goof-ball comedy even though it plays like one on the surface.

If you've seen any of my other reviews you'll know I love South Korean Movies.

This is one of those little odd movies that hides away, waiting you to find it and watch it and love it.

The acting was really top notch, especially the main character and the daughter. Their interaction together makes the movie.

As always it's the small little things that are added as though making a movie is a matter of art as apposed to fame and money.

This is a quaint, odd ball, black comedy that warms your heart when the movie is done. It's great and well worth the watch.

This is a refreshing black-comedy with a interesting story and narrative that got my attention from beginning to end. The plot is about a social outcast since her school days and has a chronic blushing problem falls for her teacher, who accepted her for who she is. Later she becomes a teacher and tries to get into a love relationship with him although he is married. Soon she teams up with the daughter of the teacher she is in love with, cause the daughter thinks her father is cheating on her mom. The intriguing premise is what got my attention, and enjoyed just about every part of this black-comedy. Although most of the comedic value comes from adult humor, it's nothing really to complain about. I didn't particularly liked the ending, mainly cause the character Yang Me-Sook who is in love with the male teacher didn't win my sympathy over at the end. Overall it offers a solid script and some great performances, most definitely worth watch, especially for fans of black-comedy.

7.9/10