| Language: Korean Director: Yoon-ki Lee Running time: 123 min Release year: 2008 |
| Cast: Jeon Do-Yeon, Ha Jung-Woo, Hye-ok Kim, Oh Ji-Eun, Kim Young-Min, Kim Jung-Ki, Yeong-jin Shin, Gi Ju-Bong, Choi Il-Hwa |
Movie Review:
“My Dear Enemy” is one of those rare films, like “Lost in Translation” or “Adrift in Tokyo”, that’s able to say so much with so little. The film stars two of South Korea’s most in demand performers: Do-yeon Jeon and Jung-woo Ha. For Do-yeon Jeon, this is her first performance since her Cannes awarded performance in “Secret Sunshine.” Making things even more interesting is the fact the film is directed by Yoon-ki Lee, already well regarded for directing such indie gems as “This Charming Girl” and “Ad Lib Night“. |
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In “My Dear Enemy” thirty something Hee-su (Do-yeon Jeon) is single, jobless, & miserable. She holds a perpetual sneer, showcasing all of the bitterness she holds against life and her ex-boyfriend Byung-woon Cho (Jung-woo Ha). Meanwhile, Byung-woon Cho is a fast talker, popular with the ladies, but a dreamer with little in tangible assets (he’s also jobless & homeless). Approximately one year ago, Byung-woon borrowed $3,500 from Hee-su. Since the loan, Hee-su hasn’t seen or heard from Byung-woon.
One day, when Byung-woon cohorts at a racetrack with friends he turns around to find Hee-su standing over him and giving him a stare reflective of all the disdain she holds for him … or does she? Hee-su demands Byung-woon repay the loan immediately, not later today or tomorrow, but right now. Byung-woon doesn’t have the money to pay her back, but he does have a lot of other girlfriends that will loan him the money. Thus, Byung-woon and Hee-su set out to retrieve the money and possibly more….
“My Dear Enemy” clicks from the get-go, with Do-yeon Jeon giving a wonderfully low-key performance (the antithesis of her prior performance in “Secret Sunshine) & Jung-woo Ha seemingly reprising his grifter like character from “The Moonlight of Seoul”. Chemistry between these two is tangible from the get-go, even though their characters can’t be more dissimilar. The film plays off like a road film of sorts, similar to the equally compelling “Adrift in Tokyo”, where two characters travel through a major metropolis to discover things about themselves and the other person. Making “My Dear Enemy” even more appealing, the film takes place entirely over a one day period. Whether you have ever come across a former friend or lover, the feeling of traversing Seoul with these two flawed but fascinating characters will make you want want to take such a trip. A feeling that grows within the two main characters themselves.
High tension drama is absent. Crazy plot twists is a foreign concept. Violence is non-existent. Yet, “My Dear Enemy” floors you with a Laissez-faire road film featuring two on the money performers doing what they do best. A striking combination of realism and idealism exists in “My Dear Enemy,” a film that’s easily one of the year’s best.
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{ Recommended Korean Movies } |
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The divine weapon (Singijeon) |
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Director: Yu-jin Kim; Cast: Jae-yeong Jeong, Eun-jeong Han, Jun-ho Heo, Sung-kee Ahn, Geon-sik Bae, Li-seong Do, Seong-mo Jeong |
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Lady Vengeance (Chinjeolhan Geumjassi) |
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Director: Park Chan-Wook; Cast: Yeong-ae Lee, Choi Min-Sik, Kwon Ye-Young |
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Breathless (Ddongpari) |
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Director: Yang Ik-Jun; Cast: Yang Ik-Jun, Kim Kkot-Bi, Jeong Man-Sik, Lee Hwan |
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Secret sunshine (Milyang) |
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Director: Lee Chang-Dong; Cast: Jeon Do-Yeon, Song Kang-Ho, Seon Jeong-Yeop |
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My dear enemy (Meotjin haru) |
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Director: Yoon-ki Lee; Cast: Jeon Do-Yeon, Ha Jung-Woo, Hye-ok Kim, Oh Ji-Eun |
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The host (Gwoemul) |
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Director: Joon-ho Bong; Cast: Kang-ho Song, Hie-bong Byeon, Hae-il Park, Doona Bae |
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The good, the bad, the weird (Joheunnom nabbeunnom isanghannom) |
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Director: Ji-woon Kim; Cast: Kang-ho Song, Byung-hun Lee, Woo-sung Jung |
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