The Persistence of Memories

Today we review two Korean movies, both about past memories, both great films. Without further ado...

The 1999 film Harmonium in my Memory is set in the late fifties/early sixties, as a young, greenhorn teacher Soo-ha (Lee Byung-hun, A Bittersweet Life, JSA,) who goes to a remote village in Kangwon-do to teach. Joined by fellow newbie Eun-hee (Lee Mi-yeon,) who is even more idealistic, they realize the reality of the situation: the grade five kids they are teaching are mostly poor, read at a grade 1 level, most are old enough to be in high school, and most quit after grade 6 to work. After a chaotic first class, the students warm up to the two teachers. The students in Soo-ha's class are taken by their teacher's warm, no-discipline demeanor, and start forming a bond with him. One of the students in particular, Hong-yeon (portrayed excellently by a young Jeon Do-yeon, in one of her earlier roles,) a 17-year old student who lifes along with her mother and three brothers in a small hut, develops a crush towards the young teacher, although she doesn't realize this fully at first. She ponders the meaning of a lot of little things, exchanges and whatnot with Soo-ha. Soo-ha, on the other hand, forms an attraction to Eun-hee the quite quickly. Thus develops a love triangle that eventully leads to some emotional developments between the three characters.

Although it sounds a bit serious, for the most part the movie has bits of humor that lighten the mood. What emerges is a cleverly shot, warm tale of love that manages to stay in your mind long after the credits have rolled. The movie is boosted by the lead actors performances, most notably the versatile actress Jeon Do-yeon, who would later go on to play a daring role in the art film Happy End with Choi Min-shik.

Thanks to poor video quality upon my viewing (a trait attributed to many K-films pre-2000) the ending gave me a different impression than what was originally intended. As I searched around and found out what the real ending was, I was in a bit of a bind, because I had liked my initial impression. Either way, the ending draws its power from the fact that there seemingly is no power in the resolution, ending in a quaint and simple manner.

To some it may prove a nostalgic trip into the past, a simple yarn about an innocent first love.


Speaking of innocent first love, Chulsoo and Younghee, a modest little production compared to the blockbusters of the preceeding three years, is one of this year's pleasant surprises for me. A very simple tale of a first love, Chulsoo, a troublemaker known for getting on the nerves of many of the teachers, gets a kick in the pants when one day, a new student, Younghee, joins the class. Younghee is, in some ways, the opposite of Chulsoo, a smart student who loves music. During their first day they are seated together, and thus begins a friendship.

What interests me about the film that it's point centers mainly around the slice of life we are presented with; it doesn't try to preach to us or deliver any sort of message; it just exists, as if invited to a vacation with cherished friends. The story merely serves the characters, especially Chulsoo who, thanks to his new friendship, ends the movie for the better. It is not a drastic change, but a slow, subtle one that grows slowly as the film progresses, and it is evident that it continues long after we witness their childhood experiences.

As such, the movie dwells on characterization, and here the movie shines. Chulsoo is not as one dimensional as other movies would have portrayed him. Like many kids his age, he has a vivid imagination, and deep down he reall has a good heart. Younghee has more issues than she would like to reveal to the other characters; she's dealing with stuff from her past regarding her parents, culminating in a scene that frankly freaks me out. The kids deal with issues regarding growing up, school, and things that would be of concern to kids their age.

There is little doubt that some may compare this movie to When I Turned Nine, another similarly themed movie. In fact, there is one plot device very similar between the two movies regarding stolen items. However, When I Turned Nine seemed at times a little melodramatic for me, while this movie serves it just right. This movie shines because the characterization is so nicely integrated into the film, so subtle, that it feels natural to watch it.

I highly recommend this film; it is a sweet, subtle experience that lingers with you long after the credits have come and gone.