In 2006, Ang Lee took a huge risk when he agreed to develop and direct Brokeback Mountain, a film that followed two ranchers as they explored their sexual urges. Now, only two years later, Leesong Hee-il is doing the same thing with his gay-themed film No Regret.
Tackling the controversy of homosexuality, No Regret is a Korean film that intertwines the emotions of love and longing with the politics that derive social class and public acceptance. The combination is harsh as the two clash throughout; however, it is their ultimate blend that helps propel the film from a stereotypical lecture session to a journey of life, love and everything that occurs in-between.
As the story opens, Sumin has just recently left the orphanage and is attempting to support himself in the high profile city of Seoul. Unfortunately, things are not going well for the guy as he is fired from the factory and must perform at a 'host bar' to make a living. The job is disgraceful to Sumin, but he does what he has been doing since the beginning - anything he has to in order to stay alive.
Brought to life by Lee Young-hoon, Sumin is the perfect example of a confused man with nowhere to turn and no one to ask for help. Capturing his innocence and uncertainty, Young-hoon plays to his hesitance in all situations, never making him sure of his actions and allowing him to grow as a man throughout the film's entirety.
Along for the ride is Lee Han. Playing the son of a high profile corporate conglomerate, Han effectively takes Jaemin to the edge and back. Giving his heart and soul to Sumin, Jaemin never once thinks about the perception of those around him; instead choosing to live in the moment and care only for those who care about him. He is tender-hearted and through Han's use of facial expressions and soft personality, audience members find themselves wrapped up in the story and its characters within the first half hour.
Together these two guys create a strong bond, forming a chemistry that is rarely seen on the big screen. Their soft and fierce interactions are believable to the naked eye and really allow the audience to engulf themselves within their lives and live out their hardships and confusing moments. You become one with them, feeling with them as they struggle to find both their identity and their place in the world.
Yet, even with all that said, I do have to say that it wasn't the actors or the characters that made this film so enthralling. Rather, it was the clever dialogue, unique approach and amazing direction that truly allowed the story to come together and form a film that is so clear on its message that you can't help but appreciate its bravery.
Directed by veteran Korean filmmaker Leesong Hee-il, No Regret is shot with precision and intelligence. With each scene thought out clearly and the angles mapped to perfection, no shot is lost in the scuffle. Instead, the camera is used to adequately capture the emotions and tension that exists between the two leading characters, exposing their inner fears as well as their love, and ultimately helping to tell the true story that hides behind the dialogue and actions.
Ultimately, No Regret proves itself adequately. Carrying the story and progression of a gay Romero & Juliet, the film shows that it is much more than a story about a homosexual relationship. In fact, the relationship is only a small piece to the puzzle that must be completed in order to fully understand the true meaning to the film.
Additional pieces include the politics that help us decide what is right and wrong, the ridiculous presence of social classes, the ironic feeling of social acceptance and the all too over-hyped feeling of normalcy.
It is these combined subplots that help drive home the moral message of the film and truly make it a movie that may not be loved by everyone, but can be appreciated and learned from by one and all.
