No Regret

The one negative review here (at this writing) says a lot more about the reviewer than it does the movie. Someone who complains about the lack of nudity in this film was looking for something completely different. The art of this superb film flew directly over his head.

This story of obsessive love and desire between two guys who are at opposite ends of the economic and social scale is haunting and beautiful. I watched it. I thought about it for an hour or so. Then I had to watch it again to make sure the film was as good as it seemed.

It is. This story is completely unpredictable. It's kind of amazing that you're pretty sure you know where the story is headed, and then it takes a turn that knocks the wind out of you.

This is a first rate production--acting, script, cinematography, everything. I think this is going to bump something off my top ten gay-themed film list. But I will watch again to make sure. That's how watchable it is.

For me, this film depicts a time and place and circumstances that I am more than willing to get lost in.

An orphan's love story with a son of rich businessman. This is not unusual, but I like the character of su-min, he is very natural as a straight-acting gay guy. The depiction of the sea landscape is also very representative of the story. And when the story was almost slided by a korean twist of thriller, i held my breath. Then it turns out ok. Well, I was hoping something in between of suspense and happy-ending drama, though.

NO REGRET (HUHWIHAJI ANHA) is an impressive film from Korea, especially in that it is the first venture for writer/director Hee-il Leesong who gives evidence of not only a his ability to create a film that examines life in Korea in a verismo style, but also knows how to cast and direct a crew of actors in a polished manner. He is most assuredly a new artist to watch.

NO REGRET takes many chances with the story of Korean orphans growing to the age of self- sufficiency without the guidance of parents, fending out a life with the sole support of their fellow orphans. The boys in this story come from the country with little exposure to the city life of Seoul and the tough choices that must be made to survive. The other side of the story reflects the wealthy young men who come from homes burdened with high expectations and preordained 'lives' of inheriting the family business, marrying the right girl, continuing the level of 'sophistication' to which they were born. NO REGRET places a member of each of these disparate groups together and the impact of opposite backgrounds is the thread that weaves so well through this love story.

Lee Su-min (the remarkably gifted newcomer Young-hoon Lee) is the orphan who works at menial jobs until he finds a source of good money as a rent boy in a company called XLarge. Su-min adapts well as he is apparently comfortable with his sexuality: his fellow ex-orphans who work at XLarge present the gamut of types that find prostitution monetarily if not emotionally rewarding. At a chance encounter Su-Min meets Song Jae-min (Nam-gil Kim) and while the attraction is one sided at first, Jae-min is bound by family expectations to marry and take over the family business and has not come to grips with his sexuality. Fear and recognition of class differences keeps Su-min from responding to the near stalking Jae- min, but eventually the attraction blossoms and differences seem to disappear. The two young men have found love, but Jae-min must cope with the expectations of his family - the results being devastating to both men in different ways. How the relationship works through this rocky road is the essence of the film and to discuss the ending would be to destroy the impact of the film.

Every aspect of this film - writing, directing, acting, lighting, music, editing - is first rate. No one who sees this film will be able to escape the impact of the characterization by Young- hoon Lee: his screen presence is magnetic and his range of acting is solid. He definitely is a rising star. As for writer/director Hee-il Leesong, here is a man who not only knows the art of story telling but also the sensitive insight as to the parameters of both economy and exposition when each element of the story calls. Highly recommended. Grady Harp

The English title of this film is "No Regrets" and I have no regrets about seeing it.

The characters were honest and real and the plot was well developed. I cant comment on the acting as I don't speak Korean, but rather relied on subtitles, but I can say that the low budget of this film had no adverse effects on the quality at all.

The best part of this this film is that although the characters are gay, the film would have been equally cohesive and interesting if the cast were changed to male/female heterosexual roles.

I would recommend this film to any Indi film fan, GLBT film supporter and mainstream viewers alike. This is truly a film anyone could enjoy. Don't miss out!

Su-min is a poor country boy raised in an orphanage who goes to the big city and gets a job working in a factory in Seoul. He also does odd jobs to make ends meet and one night while working as a driver meets a man Jae-min who propositions him. Su-min soon discovers that the Jae-min is the son of the plant owner and that he's being laid-off. While the son attempts to save his job, Su-min rejects the offer and walks out.

Shortly thereafter he finds himself working in a boydello and the rich man has tracked him down. Also working at the boydello is a jaded Hustler named Jung-tae who's only working where he is so that he can make a lot of cash to spend on his girlfriend. Later we meet another young country orphan who comes to work at the boydello and wins the affections of a local policeman.

With the story of how this life changes these three young men as a backdrop we see the relationship between Su-min and Jae-min grow from a stalker relationship to something more only to have Jae-min's parents intercede with plans of their own.

The subtitling could be better and some of the plot developments seemed to be somewhat abrupt, (at least to an occidental mind) but overall the film is watchable and better than most Korean gay films that I've seen. Some additional character development would have helped as well.