Time
Time ***
Directed by Ki-duk Kim
Written by Ki-duk Kim
Starring:
Jung-woo Ha as Ji-woo
Ji-Yeon Park as Seh-hee - before plastic surgery
Ji-heon Kim as Seh-hee - after plastic surgery
Sung-min Kim as Plastic Surgeon
97 Minutes(Not Rated-Sex, Language)
---------------------------------------------------
"Time" is a bizarre and very strange romantic melo-drama that puts characters in situations so unusual that they become almost funny. And its this bizarreness that does make the movie work, simply because it is a bizarre storyline. I've only seen Ki-duk Kim's last movie-"3-Iron"-another off color love story that had the two people in questions giving completely silent performances. Now if you thought that was the most unusual love story, wait until you hear the storyline for this.
Ji-woo and Seh-hee are a couple, but she is so blinded by love for him that she gets into a fit at every single woman that he ever comes into contact with. In bed one night she says that she is sorry for being the same boring face every day. And in a desperate plea to ensure that he will love her longer, she goes to a plastic surgeon and changes her face. It takes six months to recover and in that time See-heh is gone. Ji-woo is scared and lonely and begins drinking a lot, but eventually he gets over it when he meets See-eh. Little does he know that See-eh is actually See-heh in her new face. And then See-heh begins to play with his mind-sending him cards from the missing See-heh, as a test to see if he can forget See-heh and focus on this "new" love in his life. And to save the relationship See-heh only seems to make things worse, and then the tables are turned when Ji-woo decides to get his revenge.
"Time" is a depressing story, yes, but one that is so unique and original that it really does stay with you afterwards. Ji-woo and Seh-hee are the most fractured and doomed couple since the one in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." Seh-hee is tragic because we know that she will never be happy. She takes such drastic measures to ensure love, and alienates herself from her former self completely. The social commentary is everywhere. People are always dissatisfied by the way they look, especially in today's world with models and magazines highlighting the classic definition of beauty. But there is a moment where you can go too far and you need to just accept who you are. This is a terrific film, and the unusual far-fetched story needs to be accepted for anybody to get anything out of this. And its to the point where its so strange that people in the theatre were laughing during the "freak-out" scenes. And I think that Ki-duk Kim did intend this to happen, or else it would not be so over the top. Melo-dramatic or not "Time" is an experience to take. It is unusual and strange but it is also sweet and haunting. And by the end you may just shut yourself off to the idea of plastic surgery forever.
Directed by Ki-duk Kim
Written by Ki-duk Kim
Starring:
Jung-woo Ha as Ji-woo
Ji-Yeon Park as Seh-hee - before plastic surgery
Ji-heon Kim as Seh-hee - after plastic surgery
Sung-min Kim as Plastic Surgeon
97 Minutes(Not Rated-Sex, Language)
---------------------------------------------------
"Time" is a bizarre and very strange romantic melo-drama that puts characters in situations so unusual that they become almost funny. And its this bizarreness that does make the movie work, simply because it is a bizarre storyline. I've only seen Ki-duk Kim's last movie-"3-Iron"-another off color love story that had the two people in questions giving completely silent performances. Now if you thought that was the most unusual love story, wait until you hear the storyline for this.
Ji-woo and Seh-hee are a couple, but she is so blinded by love for him that she gets into a fit at every single woman that he ever comes into contact with. In bed one night she says that she is sorry for being the same boring face every day. And in a desperate plea to ensure that he will love her longer, she goes to a plastic surgeon and changes her face. It takes six months to recover and in that time See-heh is gone. Ji-woo is scared and lonely and begins drinking a lot, but eventually he gets over it when he meets See-eh. Little does he know that See-eh is actually See-heh in her new face. And then See-heh begins to play with his mind-sending him cards from the missing See-heh, as a test to see if he can forget See-heh and focus on this "new" love in his life. And to save the relationship See-heh only seems to make things worse, and then the tables are turned when Ji-woo decides to get his revenge.
"Time" is a depressing story, yes, but one that is so unique and original that it really does stay with you afterwards. Ji-woo and Seh-hee are the most fractured and doomed couple since the one in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." Seh-hee is tragic because we know that she will never be happy. She takes such drastic measures to ensure love, and alienates herself from her former self completely. The social commentary is everywhere. People are always dissatisfied by the way they look, especially in today's world with models and magazines highlighting the classic definition of beauty. But there is a moment where you can go too far and you need to just accept who you are. This is a terrific film, and the unusual far-fetched story needs to be accepted for anybody to get anything out of this. And its to the point where its so strange that people in the theatre were laughing during the "freak-out" scenes. And I think that Ki-duk Kim did intend this to happen, or else it would not be so over the top. Melo-dramatic or not "Time" is an experience to take. It is unusual and strange but it is also sweet and haunting. And by the end you may just shut yourself off to the idea of plastic surgery forever.
posted by Eric at
5:35 PM
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