A film by any other name, would not be as much of a draw as 'Romance Joe'. With a name like that, you just simply have to watch it, don't you?! The debut feature by Hong Sang-soo protégé, Kwang-kuk Lee, his mentor's influence is laced throughout this non-linear, post-modern piece, that could prove an editor's – and indeed a viewer's – nightmare.
'Romance Joe' is a film of stories within stories, though by the film's conclusion, we realise that these are all in fact part of one greater story that doesn't care much for chronology. Someone is missing and his parents come to his flat to look for clues, accompanied by one of his friends. We then switch to a struggling film director, staying in a small town motel to get 'inspired' to write a new script. Ordering 'coffee', the extra cream delivery girl begins to tell the story of 'Romance Joe' – another struggling film director that was distracted from his suicide attempt when she accidentally bought him some 'coffee.'
Along the way, and in no particular order, the story of 'Romance Joe', the 'coffee' girl and teenagers in love play out for us, switching between narratives, though gradually pulling themselves together by the end so that the viewer can piece together the story that they think they have just watched. Confused? Yes, as are many of the lead characters.
A love story full of twists and turns, this could easily have been made by Hong Sang-soo himself, feeling very similar to many of his films. However, made in 2011, this comes before many of Hong's more recent unconventional rom-coms, and so Lee must be given some credit for his attempts at originality. Like all films structured –or not structured – in this way, 'Romance Joe' can take a little while to get a grasp of. However, once you're in, you're in, and you find yourself engrossed in the story as more and more unfolds and is revealed, or at least I did.
Films like this aren't for everyone, and I know more than a few that have got confused, bored or both by Tarantino's work, including myself. But if you don't try to make it too epic and make too much of the switching of narrative, it can be a nice way to keep the audience interested and paying attention.
Beyond Da-wit Lee of 'Pluto' fame as a young Romance Joe, there are no established actors with long CVs to draw people in. Instead, Lee's debut feature is a simple complicated film about some confused individuals.
politic1983.blogspot.co.uk
'Romance Joe' is a film of stories within stories, though by the film's conclusion, we realise that these are all in fact part of one greater story that doesn't care much for chronology. Someone is missing and his parents come to his flat to look for clues, accompanied by one of his friends. We then switch to a struggling film director, staying in a small town motel to get 'inspired' to write a new script. Ordering 'coffee', the extra cream delivery girl begins to tell the story of 'Romance Joe' – another struggling film director that was distracted from his suicide attempt when she accidentally bought him some 'coffee.'
Along the way, and in no particular order, the story of 'Romance Joe', the 'coffee' girl and teenagers in love play out for us, switching between narratives, though gradually pulling themselves together by the end so that the viewer can piece together the story that they think they have just watched. Confused? Yes, as are many of the lead characters.
A love story full of twists and turns, this could easily have been made by Hong Sang-soo himself, feeling very similar to many of his films. However, made in 2011, this comes before many of Hong's more recent unconventional rom-coms, and so Lee must be given some credit for his attempts at originality. Like all films structured –or not structured – in this way, 'Romance Joe' can take a little while to get a grasp of. However, once you're in, you're in, and you find yourself engrossed in the story as more and more unfolds and is revealed, or at least I did.
Films like this aren't for everyone, and I know more than a few that have got confused, bored or both by Tarantino's work, including myself. But if you don't try to make it too epic and make too much of the switching of narrative, it can be a nice way to keep the audience interested and paying attention.
Beyond Da-wit Lee of 'Pluto' fame as a young Romance Joe, there are no established actors with long CVs to draw people in. Instead, Lee's debut feature is a simple complicated film about some confused individuals.
politic1983.blogspot.co.uk
