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| Actor Yeon Woo-jin in a scene from "Shades of the Heart" / Courtesy of At9 Film |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Director Kim Jong-kwan's contemplative "Shades of the Heart" is a character-driven film that captures many layers of pain through the protagonist's encounters with the people he meets in downtown Seoul amid moments of sublime beauty.
The film begins with a novelist named Chang-seok (Yeon Woo-jin) meeting aimless Mi-young (IU) at a cafe located inside a bustling subway station in Euljiro. Having returned to Korea from the U.K. after a divorce, he encounters four people, including Mi-young, and engages in extended conversations to start writing a book.
In the second segment, Chang-seok strolls through Seoul with his editor Yoo-jin (Yoon Hye-ri) who talks about her past relationship. Next, he accidentally runs into Sung-ha (Kim Sang-ho), a photographer taking care of his ailing wife. In the final story, Chang-seok shares a conversation with Ju-eun (Lee Joo-young), a bartender who buys memories from her patrons after losing most her memories in a car accident.
The four tales explore slightly different themes, but each is connected with a shared feeling of loss and insecurity as each character struggles to remain sane in a society that evokes feelings of existential dread.
"This movie is not just all light or all dark. It falls into a gray area. That's why most parts were filmed at late night or at dawn," director Kim said during the press conference for the film.
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| Actor Yeon Woo-jin in a scene from "Shades of the Heart" / Courtesy of At9 Film |
The seemingly disconnected stories come together cohesively thanks to director Kim's effortless touch and attention to detail. Unlike his previous omnibus film "The Table" (2017), which centers on four different women's love lives, "Shades of the Heart" revolves around one main protagonist who moves around the city to hear the stories of four different people.
Actor Yeon portrays a rich and realistic character through his placid voice and expressive eyes. He conveys sadness hidden underneath a prosaic exterior. Throughout the film, the extent of grief over his divorce and the death of their child becomes increasingly visible, and many of his encounters reveal other achingly human stories of loss. His performance is so authentic that he blends in seamlessly with the rest of the cast.
IU's character tips between illusion and reality. Mi-young loves solitude but also welcomes friendships. Meanwhile, Yoon brings depth to her character who speaks very plainly about her breakup while Lee adds a creative twist to her wistful character who openly discusses her vulnerability.
The film also explores parts of Seoul that are fading into memory such as payphones. They had been found everywhere in the past, but now they seem unrealistic and extraordinary. The director said he thought about the complexity that people may feel when they observe an empty space.
"Shades of the Heart" will hit local theaters, March 31.
