Director: Kwon Chil In.
Starring: Uhm Jung Hwa, Moon So Ri, Jo Min Su, Lee Geung Young, Lee Dung Min, Lee Jae Yoon, Jeon Hye Jin.
Running Time: 108 minutes.
Synopsis: Three middle-aged women traverse the world of sex and relationships.
VENUS TALK is exactly that: the talk of interplanetary creatures from said planet, and as we all know, the extraterrestrials from Venus are often called ‘women’. What sets VENUS TALK apart from the many women-centric comedies is that it’s actually a very well-balanced look at love and relationships from both sides of the gender war.
A trio of best friends each find themselves negotiating their ways through the battlefield of love and sex. Being middle-aged doesn’t stop there being problems, as Shin Hye (Uhm Jung Hwa) finds herself in a relationship with a younger man, Mi Yeon (Moon So Ri) demands sexual gratification from her husband three times a week, and Jae Ho (Jo Min Su) wishes for her daughter to move out so she can continue her relationship with widowed Seong Jae (Lee Geung Young). The three stories are brilliantly mixed, with the trio spending surprisingly little time together on-screen. It’s more of an anthology of romantic tales with a few scenes acting as the glue that binds it all together.
It’s a great way to explore such complex themes, while also painting a vivid picture of love in South Korea. Despite the main focus being love, the film is purposefully and thankfully very well grounded and unsentimental. Every relationship is explored to its fullest, representing all sides, including those of the men. Even when dealing with infidelity, the film is respectfully unbiased. It doesn’t excuse actions, but searches for some form of understanding, which may very well be the most important part of any relationship.
It’s no surprise that Lee Soo Ah’s screenplay won the first Lotte Entertainment Script Contest, as the pacing is pitch perfect, slapping us with twists and turns when most needed and balancing individual stories very well. The dialogue also sizzles, with the main stars delivering their lines with expert comedic timing. Their chemistry is always apparent, and the male actors are more than just props to further the plot. You feel these characters could genuinely exist outside the confines of their stories. Both male and female characters seem as though they have progressed or been up to something between their scenes, rather than waiting to play their part in the lives of the protagonists.
Kwon directs the material with great restraint, allowing the script and actors to be the true stars. He knows how to shoot a scene to allow for the words and performances to shine through. VENUS TALK may certainly be aimed at a female audience, but it really is a film that should appeal to people of all genders, ages, and of any relationship status. It’s a universal tale that pretty much reinforces the fact that love can come from anywhere at any time, and sometimes a fine tune is necessary. Honest, hilarious, and heartbreaking too, VENUS TALK can be translated into any language.
[usr=4]VENUS TALK is released in select US cinemas on Friday 28th February.
