[kmovie] Maundy Thursday (Our Happy Time) review

[scottishlass]

summary:
For Yun-soo (Kang Dong-won) life was one continuous string of hardships, hunger and inevitable death. Now he is sitting on death row, waiting somewhat impatiently for his execution as he thinks that death is the only salvation but also peace he will ever get.
In his mind, he has already concluded his life, he is convicted of murder in three times and he has evoked the right to live. One day the monotony of his days is disturbed by Sister Monica who is accompanied by Yu-jeong (Lee Na-young), her niece, who is recuperating from yet another suicide attempt.
As Yu-jeong is bound to a promise to her aunt, she visits Yun-soo every Thursday until the young man sheds his anymosity and a tentative friendship blooms. Through their shared memories, painful at that, these two wounded beings find a motivation to live and to love again. Secrets are shared and Yu-jeong realizes that Yun-soo is not the monster she first thought him to be.

acting:
Kang Dong-won as Yun-soo is heart-breaking and disgusting at the same time. He is a killer with an angel face. And he is convincing. I kept feeling sad for him, not because he is Dong-won but because he portrayed Yun-soo like a cornered animal ready to lash out at everyone and using his actions to keep everyone away. Openly admitting to the atrocious murders is his way to be left alone in his misery, he doesn't know nor does he expect compassion as he was raised on the streets and couldn't save his little brother when they were both kids. I just loved the deviant look, but I hated the sly and devious eyes that give you shivers, the lecherous smile in the beginning of the movie. And yet, I felt for him. No one is born a monster and Yun-soo clearly wasn't as is shown in the flashback of his childhood memories.
This is the second time he plays a murderer, and damn he is good. As much as I like him for his comedies, he gives a very convincing characterization as Yun-soo and I'm looking forward to his new upcoming movie Voice of Murder which comes out in February.

Lee Na-young plays Yu-jeong. At first I thought she was too weak as the opposite to Kang
Dong-won but as the story unfolded it became clear that Yu-jeong had to be this way, closed in, deviant and unemotional but for her outbursts towards her mother.

my review:
This Korean movie explores the right and wrong of capital punishment as well as the loneliness of ppl and how it affects their peace of mind. I was deeply moved by the quiet yet disturbing scenes with which the movie not only showed Yun-soo's backstory but also the slayings resulting in the death sentence. Additionally, the reason why is explored by showing glimpses of Yun-soo's former life as a homeless boy and then a day-labourer and small-change criminal. Also Yu-jeong's life as the daughter of a rich family is not all roses. We see the aftermath of her rape by her cousin, the cold reaction of her mother and as it is told in a very quiet, almost subtle way it has even more impact. Both characters lost their innocence figuratively and metaphorically that day. Yun-soo lost his innocence to love and to become someone more when the mother of his girl-friend, his girl-friend and his unborn child were killed. Yu-jeong lost her innocence and her will to live, when her cousin raped her.
Nothing is really prettyfied, the killings, the blood, the murder weapon, everything is seen in stark red and white contrast. The rape is not actually shown, but the devastation, the heart ache and agony resulting from it.
Shock, disgust and also compassion is created when Yu-jeong confesses to the rape to the alledged rapist and murderer, Yun-soo. She confesses to the very man who did what her cousin did to her. It would be so easy to believe that and yet there is a sense of loneliness and also innocence around Yun-soo that is so hard to reconcile him with the rapist and murderer.

The movie shocks with visuals, so much is true, but they are only momentarily and show the conflicting emotions of the main protagonist. Additionally, we see what it takes to deserve capital punishment. The violence is used to ask: Are we allowed to kill a person who is a killer? Is it justified? Even if s/he repends?
It is a sad movie, especially as there is a plot twist towards the end that makes it all the sadder.