User reviews

This is one of the top 3, if not the best, Korean drama I've seen so far. I admit I was stunned by the beauty of Cecilia Cheung, but even though that might have had some effect on my objectivity, "Failan"'s still a very good film. The acting performances by Cheung and especially by Choi Min-sik are strong and believable.

In short, this is a drama of two persons, Kang-jae and Failan, who are married with each other, but never even meet. (check the DVD for the details.) Yet they share the same tragic fate. The saddest thing of this sad story is that you know that if the two characters would meet just once, everything would turn out ok.

The story is originally written by a Japanese, Jiro Asada, who also wrote the Japanese top hit "Love letter". Even though the story in "Failan" is different from "Love letter", some resemblance can be noticed in the structure of both films. And most of all, you get the same mix of sad and warm feelings in both. And that's why I really like "Failan". Because even though the film is entirely sad, it is also in a way warm and beautiful.

Maybe a bit more focus on the Failan character instead of the smalltime crook Kang-jae would be desirable. After all, the emotional part of the story does not begin until the appearance of Failan.

Korean film has improved enormously in the last few years. "Failan" is a good example and I highly recommend it. Overall rating 8,5.

This film falls somewhere between Fireworks and Postman Blues, without approaching the greatness of either. The principal problem seems to be a serious lack of depth and excessively sappy treatment where the title character, Failan herself, is concerned. Demands for sympathy are so obvious and pathetic that the film is stripped of much of its potential emotion.

While there are excellent performances all around, and moments of brilliance in direction and cinematography, the script itself seems to be so lop-sided in terms of its focus on the two worlds of the main characters, that it makes one question why any of Failan's life is shown at all. Indeed, the final sequence would have been much more effective otherwise.

This movie made me unable to enjoy other movies for a while.

Yo!!! I would have been the same as Kang Jae should I have experienced all that he had in life. A loser in the game of life finds redemption in a girl he just helped get paperwork for immigration purposes by a paper marriage. While everyone puts him down, she was the one person who appreciated what he did for her even though it was just matter of fact to him.

Now Failan is the angel I always hoped to find in life but I'll settle for a movie version until the real one comes. She'll sweep you off your feet with her innocent charm and her tragic plight. The gratitude she displays is so strong that she mesmerizes us all from the letters that she writes to Kang Jae.

The movie starts off in Kang Jae's seedy world yet turns into something poetic and and heartbreaking that will singe you in its unfolding. Failan is for those who appreciate the bittersweet. Enjoy.

'Failan' is the sophomore feature film of director Song Hae-seong, who made a big splash in 1999 with another time-twisting romance called 'Calla'. This time around, he works with acclaimed Japanese novelist Jiro Asada (reknowned for his best-selling novel 'Love Letter' which had been previously made into a memorable Japanese film in 1995).

Song has created a stirring romantic tragedy of immense emotional wallop that it's not easily shaken. Executed with the same quiet subtlety seen in other recent Korean romances (such as 'Il Mare' and 'Christmas in August'), 'Failan' poignantly and convincingly illustrates the tragic missed opportunity between two ill-fated star-crossed lovers while eloquently showing what it means, and how it feels, to be in love.

Despite having never met, they end up giving each other the dignity and self-respect that their lives had been missing for so long. Unfortunately, the realization of what he meant to Failan comes to Kang-jae comes too late, leading to the film's most heartbreaking scene, which is compounded by the irony of how she treasured what he quickly forgot or cast off.

As the film's titular character, Cheung easily does the best work of her career. Her sympathetic turn as the quiet Failan is a marvel to watch. Two of the film's more memorable sequences: Failan using quick-thinking to avoid being sold to a strip club, and the heart-wrenching first night at her new home. It is also easy to see why Choi, as Cheung's love interest, is one of Korea's most popular actors-- despite his character's slovenly appearance and boorish behavior, Choi evokes sympathy for Kang-jae with a nuanced performance that reveals the man's insecurity and gentle spirit.

This indeed goes without saying that 'Failan' is one of the best films of the year.

A friend of mine told me about this Korean movie. He's a rough fellow, not the soft type. But he said this is the one movie that made him cry. Mind you, I hate sappy movies too.

Although this movie didn't make me cry, I can see why others have found it so moving. It tells a tragic story of a purehearted girl who is so hard to find in this modern world. But it also tells a story of another tragic character--a gangster, a commoner, the one that we all know.

I also found this movie entertaining in other ways. Acting is top notch, and the story and dialogues are pretty funny too at times in its realistic ways. Some of its intense scenes have burnt permanent images into my head.

If you're a Hollywood blockbuster junkie, don't bother with this movie, because you'll never get it. If you have the slightest ability to appreciate finer things, this is a must see movie.

Another gem from Korea.

Cheers!

Despite the outstanding reviews, I find it difficult to really understand what made these people come to that opinion. Whilst it is a good movie, its downfall in my view was the lack of originality in the way it was made.

The story tells of a Chinese girl, Failan, who goes to Korea in search of her distant family. Penniless, she finds out they have moved to Canada and decides she wants to stay in Korea. Only problem was her Visa. In a sham marriage, she marries a man she never met and never will meet, Kang-jae, a hopeless underground gang member. On learning of Failan's death, Kang-jae receives a letter from Failan, and slowly learns of her love for him.

The story is a moving one and very well written. However, the film's direction was very wooden. Scenes were slow and very expressionless, despite the quality of the acting. There was little in the film that qualified in real excellence for me.

It's probably worth a watch if you're a movie fan, and if you'd like to see how Korean cinema is really taking off (after all this is a fairly decent effort). One for a quiet night in.

If you are a fan of world cinema, don't miss this film, arguably the best film of the 21st century so far.

After the first watching this film, I was left dumb-founded. How can I understand this movie? Is this really a melodrama? How can a movie where main male and female characters really never meet be a melodrama? Though, this movie is still an absolutely heart-breaking and tear-jerking love story. This movie is a quantum leap in the melodrama genre. We will probably never see a melodrama like this one again. This movie not only completely rewrites the rules of melodramas but shows that a melodrama can deliver powerful social commentary. Can a melodrama be subversive? Check it yourself. This movie is as subversive as Fight Club.

Though this movie is based on 'Love Letter', a Japanese short fiction by Jiro Asada, the movie is much richer in social context. Failan is the saddest movie in my living memory. I don't know how many times I have seen this film. I cry at the same parts during each viewing. The ending where Failan sang for her 'husband' is simply heart-wrenching. The saddest of all is that even Failan could not save us, poor souls like her husband, from this cruel world. Then, who can? Only death?

I adore Min-Sik Choi and I heard great things about this film so I decided to check it out. I watched it this evening and I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it. I was confused initially about Failan and Kang-jae's marriage; why Kang-jae was receiving money and the like, but mostly it was the first half or so that made my high expectations feel misplaced. The fact that Kang-jae was a gangster, I think, lessened the effect of the movie for me. His boss was more comical than he was intimidating and it seemed like the film was trying to decide between two genres, the crossing between them feeling a bit thrown together. When Failan finally entered the picture and the connection between she and Kang-jae became more apparent, I liked it more, but previously I was treating the movie as more of a comedy than a drama. If Kang-jae was simply a worthless, violent bum without gangster ties, it's my opinion that the movie would've worked better. That aside, Failan's innocence and devotion and Kang-jae's eventual reactions were very touching, and though I wasn't as moved by the story as some were (the ending bothered me as well) it was an enjoyable movie.

I watched Failan yesterday and i still feel my nerves vibrating when i think about the most intense moments. I could loose myself now praising the protagonists actors Min-sik Choi and Cecilia Cheung, but to keep it simple i only say they did a incredible good job. Korean cinema delivers one masterpiece after another, as 'A tale of two sisters' watched a few days before, manages to define a new standard as well. Now i have to regenerate for a while before i am able to fully appreciate another emotional challenging stuff like this. Absolute recommendation. 10/10

I've never cried because of a movie. I always sympathize with characters, yet I never empathize. I can never feel the true emotion. Sure, "Schindler's List" had amazing worksmanship, but it didn't do anything for me, and "Grave of the Fireflies" is equally as good, but neither, as well as pretty much any other film I've seen, has made me cry.

But "Failan" made me come pretty close.

At first, I was skeptical of the film. Korean films have come a long way, yet I trust their action and flashy stylish movies more then their dramas. "JSA" and "Shiri" are great, "Jakarta's" a lot of fun, and "Nowhere to Hide" is stylistical live manga if I've ever seen it.

But "Failan" comes out of nowhere, and makes me wonder why this didn't make it out of Korea. It's hands down one of the best films of the last year. Storywise, it avoids cliche, and other traps of romantic/tragic films, and comes out on its own.

The story is simple. A wretched bum Kang Jae(Min-Sik Choi of Shiri fame) who sells pornography and is involved in the organized crime syndicate in Inchon marries Failan (Cecilia Cheung in an amazing performance,) a young Chinese girl abandoned and alone in the world in a marriage of convenience; she gets to stay in Korea and work, and he gets some cash for it. The two never meet, yet Failan is eternally grateful.

The thing is though, Failan is not even mentioned until 45 minutes into the story. Until that point, you're following the life of Kang Jae. But as you soon discover, both are tragic characters. Failan, is one of the most beautiful characters put onto film; not just in terms of outer aesthetics, but in terms of inner beauty. She is the sweetest character I've seen in a film, and that fact makes it even harder to watch.

The film borders on drama and melodrama, but thankfully, most of it is not melodramatic. Oh sure, there's some parts where the audience scoffs, but there are other parts when what is happening is so tragically beautiful, that you can't help but get involved emotionally. Thankfully, most of it is subtle and not slam in your face "Pay it Forward" style. What affected me was when Kang Jae was reading the letter from Failan thanking him for being the kindest person she's met. What's said isn't long prose, and if you're familiar with the Korean language, the sentence structure is very simple. However, the way in which the Failan's voice-over reads it is so innocent, so sweet, and so full of emotion that I choked up at that point.

The rest of the film is equally as wonderful. The group I saw it with, 2 girls and 3 guys all in college, were all equally affected. It surprises me that Shiri, conceivably a Hollywood-esque film (albeit very well done) gets a release in the U.S but this one doesn't.

If you get a chance to see this film, do not hesitate. It took me a while to get into it, as the first 45 minutes seem to have little bearing on the story, but they actually do. Beautiful acting, cinematography, and a story. Highly Recommended.

Failan is the tale of a Chinese woman who comes to Korea seeking relatives after the death of her parents. Unfortunately, they have moved on to Canada and now she must try and make a new life for herself in a foreign country. Firstly, I must admit, what drew me to Failan was the presence of Choi Min-Shik in the cast. After seeing him in both Shiri and Oldboy I wanted to explore more of the career of this extraordinarily talented actor. I expected a lot from him, and I was not disappointed. Nor was I disappointed with the extremely talented supporting cast. Cecilia Cheung is both charming and eminently watchable as Failan. And the rather colourful mobsters are appalling and humorous in equal amounts. The story is a slow paced one and is built heavily around character and emotion and is not made in the style of Hollywood offerings. Following Failan's experiences and the way in which others react to her story is a captivating experience which quickly pulls you in. It is a keenly observed and intimate tale that will pull at the heart-strings of anyone, even the most cynical. Make sure you have a handkerchief to hand when watching this, there really is a good chance you'll cry.

Having only seen 2 Korean movies before viewing Failan, I was quite skeptical about the quality of Failan. What is typically expected of Asian produced and directed movies are badly dubbed 1970 Kung-Fu flicks (with the exception of Crouching Tiger, and Hidden Dragon). More unimaginable was an Asian movie that could touch the heart of the viewers. An asian movie so moving that it can move the audience to tears? Bah! Ever since I began watching films at the tender age of 5, I've always held this belief of Asian movies mainly due to the stereotypes and marginalization of Asians and Asian culture presented and strengthened by the white dominated media world.

Then came Failan I have never cried in a film before. While others were sobbing over My Girl, I was wondering how many bee's had stung him. But in Failan (well I gotta admit, I didn't cry) it was the closest I had ever come to crying in a film.

Acting:Amazing

Story: Unbelievably touching

Girl: My new "dream girl." She has to be one of the most beautiful characters of our times. Her innocence and her love is unmatched.

I found the unthinkable happening...

Into my greedy little hands, fell a key. Looking around my well, defined (but impeccably small) world of Cinema, I saw an old old rotting door that had been bolted, shut, and hidden. And suddenly, a mysterious light turned that ugly door into the most awe-inspiring sight I have ever led my eyes on. Using that key, and trembling from excitemet I quickly, opened the door and lo-and-behold, I found myself being led to a whole new and not to mention magical world of Korean cinema.

Since viewing Failan (2 days ago), I have seen 3 more Korean films. I am just saddened that I have not heard a peep in America about the quality of Korean films. I was made to believe that American movies like, 40 days and 40 Nights, The Sweetest Thing, Just Married, were the only emotional roller coaster current romantic movies could offer. No longer. The Korean movie Oasis actually made me cry.

Watch Falian!

And wait for the key to fall into your laps...

This movie has a very strong story, somehow its both sentimental and not at the same time. Kang-jae is a lowlife gangster who to get some money marries a Chinese immigrant who he doesn't even care to look at. Failan pays for the arrangement in order to seek out her remaining relatives after her other passes away. Even though Kang-jae don't care for her at all, she is to him forever grateful for what he has done and keeps writing him letters like a loving wife.

This movie is very well done. By the end of it I shed a few tears and felt really moved by it. The devotion and hardship of Failan is very touching and the indifference of Kang-jae makes it all tragic. Tragic in a realistic way that is, not as in the TV drama variety. Also this is the movie which made me a fan of Choi Min-sik, not the little overrated 'Oldboy' in which he is cool, but too remote to make an impact. In here he is like Kitano Takeshi in his seedy gangster-don't-care fashion, but rawer and even cooler. Cynthia Chung ain't bad either, she makes a good character and is very pretty, but I couldn't stop wishing that she didn't do her nose like that. I don't get it, why surgically make a western nose when whats there from before is much more beautiful?? Asians (and others of course) everywhere, please stop the foolish surgery, people are beautiful as they are, not as they are created in a fashion image.

"Failan" has very little going for it other than the good looks of the cast. The story (bad boy learns to appreciate life and love) is trite, the Failan character has no depth and while the hoodlum played by Min-sik Choi is a little more interesting, his transformation was ultimately unconvincing. The movie is a real drag, and instead of submitting myself to its shallow sentimentality, I spent the second half checking my watch to see when it would be over.

This film was totally unexpected. I recognized Min-sik Choi from "Shiri" when he appeared on the screen but this is no action blockbuster. Instead we get a film about a loser who comes to understand what he has lost in his life. Sounds dull? If I'd read that description, I'm not sure I would have bothered to watch it so I can only recommend you jump in feet first. The structure of the film is wonderful at giving our hearts the feeling of a love story when our heads know that it isn't possible. I found this film on a cheap VCD and, as far as I know, that seems to be the only way to get to see it in England. Even though this film is based on a story by a well-known Japanese novelist, I don't think it has even been released in Japan so word of mouth looks like the only way this will find an audience. If you can't find it, I'll lend you my copy!

This has got to be one of the most breathtaking and emotional movies to come out of Asia ever.

I am not one who usually gets all emotional and mushy about movies, but this one hit the spot. The story is amazingly touching and you really get to feel with the two lead roles, portrayed by Min-sik Choi and Cecilia Cheung.

It is particularly refreshing to see Cecilia in a more serious role, compared to most of the dripple that is spewed out of the Hong Kong cinema. Don't get me wrong, Hong Kong movies are nice, but they just have that whole 'not-so-serious' feel to them most of the time.

I believe this movie have brought tears to the eyes of many of the viewers, and by rightly so. It is really a good movie, and one that any movie enthusiast should see at least once. I have seen it a couple of times and it doesn't get old.

Get some tissue, sit back comfortably and get immersed into the story of Failan. It will move you, I guarantee.

To be honest, anyone not moved by the story Failan tries to tell is either incredibly insensitive or too dumb to understand it. Seldom has a movie gripped me like this one has. The story, about two protagonists who live on the fringes of society, does start slowly, but comes together in the most beautiful way during the second half of the film, all the while saying some truly interesting things about - amongst others - immigration, love and redemption. The main actors are incredible in their performances and the music, photography and cinematography are also excellent throughout the whole film.

A movie I'm not afraid of recommending to everyone.

How can we be so touched on a story of a couple that has never met before?

Such a super melodrama with social commentary on immigrants.

This is easily the best film of 2001 it's just a shame that a lot of people outside of Korea won't have seen this film. Choi Min-shik is simply brilliant as the loser Gangster Kang-jae and Cecilia Cheung is also wonderful as the tragic Failan. The plot (very basically) involves a gangster Kang-jae (choi Min-shik) who for the price of a boat agrees to take the blame for a murder his boss committed because his boss would get about 20 years and he would only get about 10. Then Kang-jae gets news that Failan his wife is dead so Kang-jae has to go to where Failan was living and act like a normal husband which is something he wasn't, he married her illegally for money and had never even met her. During the trip he discovers that Failan was in love with him because of what she thought was a kind act in marrying her. Anyway during the trip things happen that makes Kang-jae change his mind about taking the blame for his boss, and he decides to quit the gangster life and go back to his home town. The film ends with a scene, which I think is one of the best endings I've ever seen. The characters in the film are so well detailed and the directing and pacing are superb, I've got it on DVD but would love to see it on the big screen so I just hope that it gets some sort of release in England and hopefully loads of other countries. Korean movies are so strong at the moment with 'Christmas in August', 'Whispering Corridors', 'Tell Me Something', 'Nowhere to Hide', 'Art Museum by the Zoo', 'Libera Me' and others it's a shame more people don't watch them.