[HanCinema's Film Review] "Through My Midwinter"

The hardships young couples face nowadays in Korea, in terms of finding a job, a place to live and in general to "survive" has been a recurring theme in the country's indie scene lately. Oh Seong-ho, in his feature debut, also deals with the same issues, but uses them in order to make a more general topic on Korean society by presenting a number of its worst but also very real aspects.

"Through My Midwinter" screened at Busan International Film Festival

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Kyeong-hak is studying to become a police officer while having a loving relationship with his girlfriend Hye-jin, having moved into her apartment. Their life is hard but seems to be on a path that will lead to something better. However, when the young man is informed that his mother has taken a loan in his name and he has to repay it, their life takes a turn for the worse, particularly after Hye-jin's application for a job at the public sector is turned down and is forced to take up an office job with a lower wage. Kyeong-hak is forced to work full time as a delivery man, something that puts his studying on hold, in a decision that puts a strain on his relationship with Hye-jin, particularly since her mother seems to be rather against her relationship, and even more so when she learns his prospects have deteriorated significantly. Furthemore, an enervated Kyeong-hak starts behaving more and more selfishly towards everyone around him.

Apart from the two issues mentioned in the prologue, which essentially form the basis of the social commentary here, a third one also becomes quite evident, of the fact that the previous generation of Koreans, who are now parents, are either nowhere to be found or just creating problems, with the two protagonists highlighting each of the two cases. This fact is the cause for many issues for the current youths, who find themselves having to face the world without any practical help and without any guidance, something that adds to the sense of hopelessness the other two issues have already created. Furthermore, Oh comments on how these problems have made relationships, both romantic and social, harder, while the bulk of all these comments somewhat justifies Kyeong-hak's behaviour, who seems to think the whole world is against him, to the point that he does not realize how great his girlfriend is, despite the fact that she is not without faults. Lastly, that Kyeong-hak is not the only one who exhibits selfish behaviour, with various people his age acting in the same and occasionally even worse way, is a wider comment regarding current society, one that is cemented in the depiction of how young women think nowadays, regarding marriage (how to get a lawyer or a doctor) and work (public sector is the best).

Also of interest is the presentation of various types of jobs very rarely depicted on cinema, as in the case of the people who put the chips of the USB sticks in their plastic cases, or the issues delivery men have to face in a society who considers them the lowest level of the food chain. This aspect, particularly as we watch the protagonist's downward spiral mirrored in the jobs he gets, adds to another comment, almost philosophical this time, that real change only comes when hitting rock bottom, to the point of even finding oneself close to death.

The way the various comments are implemented in the narrative, with occasionally brief scenes, is excellent, particularly because they offer a kind of relief from the main story, which occasionally borders on being humorous. Won Chang-jae's editing in that regard is top notch. Kwak Kyung-ho's cinematography is also on a very high level, focusing on realism through an approach that frequently allows the viewer to feel as if he is peaking on the action.

Kwon Da-ham gives a great performance as Kyeong-hak, in a rather layered downward spiral. Kwon So-hyun is also quite good as Hye-jin, with both performances being very realistic and also showcasing the chemistry between the two actors.

"Through My Midwinter" is a great sample of Korean indie cinema, a rather smart presentation of today's issues youth face in the country, and also a very entertaining film despite its bleakness.

Review by Panos Kotzathanasis

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"Through My Midwinter" is directed by Oh Seong-ho, and features Kwon Da-ham, Kwon So-hyun, Oh Ji-hye, Kim Shin-bi, Jung Soo-kyo, Gye Young-ho. No release date in Korea yet.