Suilgwa Sunae: A real downer of a movie

Should you watch Suilgwa Sunae? Honestly, only if you're in the mood for a heavy, slow-burn melodrama that doesn't care about your feelings. If you want something light or fast-paced, skip this and go watch Alice's Picnic instead. It’s for the folks who like old-fashioned, stagey dramas where everyone is constantly crying or making bad life choices.

The whole premise is just a classic gut-punch. Su-il finds out Sun-ae is marrying some wealthy guy named Jun-bae and he just snaps. He turns into a loan shark, which feels like a bit of a stretch, but okay. 🤷‍♂️

There is this one scene where he finds out about her illness and the way he reacts is so... frantic. It's like the camera doesn't quite know where to look. It felt really unpolished, but in a way that actually made it feel more human.

The melodrama is thick here. It reminded me a little bit of the mood in The Lash, just a lot more focused on romantic misery. The acting is very much of its time—a lot of dramatic stares out of windows and heavy sighs.

Sometimes the movie gets stuck on a single emotional beat for way too long. I found myself checking my watch, but then there's a small detail, like the way a character holds a letter, that brings you back in. It’s not a masterpiece, and it’s definitely not subtle. But it has this weird, persistent sadness that hangs around even after the screen goes black.

It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. It just wants to make you sad about love, money, and bad timing. 🥀

• The dialogue is super dramatic, almost like a play.
• Jun-bae is the ultimate villain-by-wealth.
• The pacing is glacial at times.
• Total count of scenes involving someone looking miserable in the rain: too many.

I wouldn't call it essential viewing, but it’s a decent enough time if you just want to sit in the dark and feel a bit gloomy. Don't go in expecting a tight script. Just ride the wave of bad decisions.