Spoilers ahead...
Plot: A Korean Mystery Thriller Where Cop Falls in Love with a Case Suspect
A man is
found dead at a mountain peak in Busan, South Korea. Detective Jang Hae-joon
(Park Hae-il) arrives at the crime scene and begins investigating whether it
was a suicide or a murder. Jang immediately suspects the dead man's wife, Song
Seo-rae (Tang Wei), of being involved. The more he investigates, the more he is
drawn to Song, feeling an irresistible desire building.
The fact
that Jang Hae-joon suffers from insomnia and frequently travels between his
workplace and Ipo, where his wife Mee-jee (Jung Yi-seo) lives, adds depth to
his character. He becomes active whenever a new case arises (a cliché), and his
sleep deprivation means his mind isn't fresh, which is why he becomes obsessed
with Song Seo-rae, even when it seems clear she is the murderer.
3rd Act of Decision To Leave Doesn’t Impress
Song
Seo-rae is an interesting character who always seems suspicious. Her behavior,
unusual laugh, and mysterious aura keep the audience guessing, as we are never
given direct answers. This is why I couldn't fully enjoy the third act; I
wanted valid reasons for her actions and her disastrous end. Her motivations
for killing aren't justified, even if she is clever enough not to get caught.
Complex Narrative and Innovative Filming by Park Chan-wook
The film
shows Song Seo-rae as Chinese and Jang Hae-joon as Korean, adding to the
confusion as they often use a translator app, which I felt didn't fully
translate the words. A song related to 'foggy night' and a scene where Jang's
wife questions why Song would live in Ipo with her new husband just to enjoy
the fog, while most people avoid it, adds to the mystery. The 'fog' likely
symbolizes Song's character and the film's overall atmosphere, making direct
conclusions elusive.
The
narrative style further adds to the mystery, with innovative filming techniques
showing conversations as if characters are face-to-face, creating a false (or
perhaps true) sense of closeness. Comical moments mostly come early through
Jang's colleague/friend, while the narrative focuses on a romantic tension that
builds toward an erotic moment, which the director shies away from every time.
Verdict on Decision To Leave
Overall,
Decision to Leave is a Korean film I liked for its atmospheric beauty. If only
Song Seo-rae's character wasn't as complex and some questions weren't left
unanswered.
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