Man-choo

Anna and Hoon sit in a restaurant and observe other couples talking to each other. Since they cannot hear what the others are saying, Anna and Hoon fill in the words for themselves and laugh at what they come up with. It is just one of the fantastic scenes in this captivating, whimsical and unpredictable romance and drama.

Anna is on leave from prison to attend her mother's funeral. Hoon is a charmer, con and gigolo on the run from the angry husband of one of his clients. They meet on a bus headed to Seattle. Anna is cold, depressed and lifeless. She has suffered much abuse in her life and is in no mood for more of the same, but Hoon is so charming and persistent that he begins to draw her out of her shell. As Hoon confronts those who treat Anna badly, she begins to see these negative people in a new light and realize what is holding her back. In helping Anna, Hoon may even break free from the same demons.

The chemistry between Wei Tang (Anna) and Bin Hyeon (Hoon) is definite and palpable. In answering questions after this world premiere Kim Tae-Yong claimed, with laughter, that this was because both actors do not speak English very well, and neither speaks the native tongue of the other (Chinese and Korean). "They were more perceptive this way" he said. There is evident truth to the claim. The acting is superb. There were abrupt changes in pace, sound and scenery, and I was captivated by the effect of each switch. I was surprised by the ending. Spoken languages include English primarily, Mandarin and Korean. Seen at the Toronto international film festival.