Highly Overrated But Still Good

Better Late Then Never

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

From the visually colored wide shot outside of a young woman's window that opens the film, we are hypnotized by the extraordinarily visual and emotional beauty that is Lover's Concerto, a feature that should come with a warning label in regards to the reactions audiences are likely to experience when watching this poignant, melodramatic romance. There is not much that can be written without inadvertently giving away the plot, with the exception that this is one of those rare films that simply has to be viewed.Ji-Hwan (Cha Tae-Hyun), works temporarily at a small restaurant, though his heart exists in photography, the film brilliantly incorporating this part of his life into the story, his appreciation for this art informing the enjoyment that other character's acquire from taking photos. When he meets the beautiful Soo-In (Son Ye-Jin) one day, who is accompanied by her best friend Gyung-Hee (Lee Eun-Ju), he cannot help but immediately fall in love with her. Despite his best efforts, that are as realistic as they are comedic, he is unable to convince Soo-In to begin a relationship with him, however, he does win the friendship of both women. Although the three friends play a terrifically important role in each others lives, Ji-Hwan finds difficulty in trying to discover who each of the women truly are, and in the end, a question to ask is, did he ever really know either of the women at all? It should be noted, the feature progresses in a non-linear fashion, this directional decision providing the audience with a series of questions over the course of the plot that continuously leaves us attentive, and unlike other films, we are splendidly provided with answers that fit perfectly with the story. Five years after meeting the two women, Ji-Hwan is receiving letters from an unknown stranger, that appear to have a direct link to his past. In a time of e-mail, the choice to have the exchanging of letters in the film appears deeply melancholic, the story appreciating this old fashioned communicative method.At the same time as Ji-Hwan tries to find answers, his sister, Ji-Yoon (Moon Geun-Young) experiences her first crush on a young bookshop attendant, Suk-Jin (Kim Nam-Jin), this particular sub-plot being one of several, that not only adds to the romantic atmosphere and the varying styles of relationships, but helps to construct an environment where everyone and anyone can experience and find love.The mirroring of small events, from touching a character's face, to placing a hand outside of a window and feeling the breeze rushing across one's skin, reflect the beauty of reliving deeply impacting moments, the sheer beauty of the romantic climate being heightened by the melancholic piano track that powerfully sets the scene.The acting throughout the feature is very believable, the conversations that transpire, and the character actions, being incredibly captivating, while at the same time, the film, both realistically and tragically, conveys themes including love, friendship, family, jealousy and loss, none of which ever feel forced or out of place.The film's conclusion is very intelligently constructed, and contextualizes much of what the audience has previously viewed, and in so doing, becomes a terribly sad, yet brilliantly powerful finish to a dramatically heartfelt story that stays with you, long after the credits have ended.

Lovers Concerto is a film that tackles the intricacies that romance can bring among friends. It makes the viewers realize on how changes can occur when it enters the hearts among a group of friends and the effect it brings to their friendship. Twenty-year-old student Ji-hwan treasures nothing more than his camera and taking pictures. One day Su-in and Kyung-hee appear in front of his camera lense. Even though their characters are totally different they understand how to compliment each other. Ji-hwan falls for Su-in at first sight, however meets her kind rejection. Yet, it doesn't affect their relationship at all because they are both still young. As the years go by, the threesome establish a close and sincere relationship, which is suddenly heading for a few minor changesThe movie presents it in a very realistic way and does not add cheesy elements to it. The acting was great. The stellar cast of Cha Tae-hyun, Son Ye-jin and the late Lee Eun-joo did extremely well on their roles. Another great ingredient added to the film is the rural setting for it allowed the characters involved to see to in a simplistic way and without the effects of modern life. It deserves a 10 out of 10 rating!!! A must-see and highly recommended!!!!

Flashback: when the two girls were children, they decided to swap their names. The subtitles say "his" and not "her name" for one of them. That doesn't mean that one of the girls was actually a boy: in the simplicity of their childhood, one of them firstly thought that the other girl was a boy, by mistake. Just that! Or, at least, that's what i understood!I enjoyed the film, it shows how the characters who look at the beginning so naive, actually are very deep and hide a difficult part of their life, the illness. Also it shows how it is difficult to communicate your own feelings. The photography is amazing. I think it was too sad in the end. Also the plot become quite complicated with all those flashbacks. Very emotional, however.

Because Japanese cult director Takashi Miike is just filming too much (five to six movies a year are no exception) and copying not only old Yakuza movies but also his own style, I left a screening of DEADLY OUTLAW: REKKA at this year's MIFED in anger and went to LOVERS' CONCERTO instead. Oh, how this Korean romanticism once again pleased me! If love could be like this... A young man between two women whose life is pressured by a serious illness that they manage to hide. When the man writes a love letter to one of them, their feelings for each other lead to unexpected turns. As a model to sublime the refusal by a friend this movie reveals not only the power of love letters but also the chance to really become one with a beloved person. It is director Lee Han's (born 1970) debut film and it had a budget of 2.5 m USD. Small means can lead to convincing results.