Directed by: Kim Young-tak (김영탁) Starring: Cha Tae-hyun (차태현), Nam Sang-mi (남상미), Oh Dal-su (오달수) Release Date: October 2nd, 2014
The uncomfortable thought of being watched in practically every public space by the thousands of CCTV cameras placed throughout cities has largely become an afterthought for the majority of city dwellers, especially those in Seoul, Korea where cameras are considered more comforting to have than not. Combined with the ubiquitous nature of high quality cameras in the hand of every cell phone holder, the oppressive Orwellian sense of Big Brother invading our lives has taken a back seat to public safety concerns that cameras seem to help alleviate with their deterrence effect. Slow Video actually goes all in presenting the Big Brother motif in an almost poetically romantic light, and will win over even those most paranoid of those ever lurking “eyes in the sky” with its quirky charm and memorable cast of characters.
Since elementary school, Jang-bu (Cha Tae-hyun) has suffered from a rare eye condition called “dynamic visual acuity” that allows him to see fast moving objects in slow motion. Unfortunately, he’s been unable to take advantage of the skill as it causes him dizziness. Having to wear sunglasses at all times, Jang-bu grew up an outcast and found his only solace in observing the lives of others through soap operas on TV.
Still awkward and now into his adulthood, Jang-bu becomes the “new guy” at a CCTV control center in charge of monitoring camera feeds throughout a specific section of town to assist in various law enforcement. Engrossed in the daily routines of the real people he observes, he creates fictitious worlds in his mind about their lives. One day, he observes a woman (Nam Sang-mi) he believes to be his childhood crush Sumi. So with the help of his coworker Mr Bang (Oh Dal-su) he sets out to try and meet her. When she becomes uneasy to approach and preoccupied with her own financial difficulties and aspirations to become an actress, Jang-bu sets out to make her happy.
Writer/director Kim Young-tak (Hello Ghost) really knows how to write for his lead actor Cha Tae-hyun (My Sassy Girl). With Slow Video being actually the third script of his to feature this actor and second he directed himself, the part of Jang-bu feels tailor made for Cha. Using extensive narration sequences especially in the early parts of the film, there’s an almost poetic prose that is reminiscent of the partnership between director Wong Kar-wai and his front man for so many films, Tony Leung.
In Slow Video, the protagonist Jang-bu becomes the hopeless romantic as he muses over the lives of the subjects he views on the CCTV systems where his fantasies are exaggerated versions of reality, just like in the soap operas he loves. Various metaphors involving the technology used in his work creates a dreamy sense of playful romantic yearning that cleverly weaves in the laughs.
There is some hilarious back and forth banter between Jang-bu and his superior Mr. Bang that may get lost in translation in the English subtitles at least as it relates to their speech patterns in Korean. Certain styles of talking and word choice can depend on age, hierarchy at work, or the level of intimacy between individuals. Understanding more of the Korean definitely raised my respect for the comedic writing and timing in the delivering of these lines.
The characters toy with these very speech patterns to get different desired reactions out of the other. For example, a younger man calling an older man “mister” or “big brother” in their respective tones of endearment (or lack thereof) can immediately establish a social framework the responder is supposed to adapt to and can really steer the interaction in one way or the other. These aspects to the script writing I found so hilarious and I wonder how much of that would be evident if say my parents watched this and not picking up on that aspect of the language.
Slow Video has so many good things going for it, but what makes it such an enjoyable watch is its charming characters and a commitment to its heightened sense of reality that borderlines on fantasy. Whether it’s Jang-bu’s eccentric eye doctor (Go Chang-seok), the young debt collector (Choi Seong-won) who cuts Sumi a lot of slack on her dues because he’s also fallen for her, the tough semi-homeless kid (Jeong Yoon-seok), or Sumi singing in the middle of the street over the phone when she’s late for her audition, there is a whimsical fantastic realism to the movie that feels a bit like a Japanese drama film from the early 2000’s. Without a definitive major conflict to drive the story along, Slow Video becomes more about its characters discovering themselves and each other.
Many of the film’s characters give off this sense that they are longing for something or someone to enhance their lives and help give them purpose, but are finding their answers to be just beyond reach. This adds a slightly somber edge to the comedic aspects of Slow Video and makes for an interesting mix that I found very satisfying. The characters begin to value what they have rather than dwell on the negative aspects of their situations in life.
There is some conflict in the third act involving a neighborhood criminal that sends the main characters into action. But the way in which it comes and goes is bit jarring to the overall tone of the movie and makes for a slight dip in the originality and charm the movie does so well with up till that point. Thankfully, the melodramatic finale is on point and ties the dueling somber and comedic tones of the film together very well. Slow Video is pleasing on so many levels that I can’t help but think this is one of the more underrated Korean movies out there.
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