Director: Leesong Hee Il.

Starring: Kwak Si Yang, Lee Jae Joon, Choi Joon Ha, Kim Chang Hwan, Lee Ik Joon.

Running Time: 144 Minutes

Synopsis: Two young men battle with their feelings towards one another as they also try and traverse the tricky area of adolescence and high school.

 

 

Korean cinema is certainly trying to tackle themes of sexuality, bullying and assault amongst the youth of the country. THREAD OF LIES, HAN GONG-JU and now NIGHT FLIGHT have all premiered in English  speaking countries this year, and it would appear that there is certainly a dark outlook, mixed with a plea for help and better understanding. Leesong Hee Il is a brave champion in Korean cinema, giving its first real look at homosexuality in his wonderful NO REGRETS. Homosexual himself, the fact that Leesong is openly gay means even more coming from Korea, where even gay pride parades force attendees to sign documents promising that they will obscure or pixelate the faces of anybody in photographs taken at such events.

Yong Joo (Kwak) and Gi Woong (Lee Jae Hoon), are two teenage boys who have each followed different paths. Despite having been childhood friends, which is gradually hinted at throughout, Yong Joo is now a dedicated student while Gi Woong is known in the area for his violence and less than stellar company. Their relationship is the key focus to the film, as Yong Joo attempts to reignite a brief friendship they had as young children. Such backstory is handled using brightly lit flashbacks suggesting happier times, that somehow avoids being saccharine. The present day timeline is much darker, with violence entering both of the boys’ lives. However, it is Yong Joo’s persistence that gradually brings them back together again.

Leesong makes brave decisions in showing an open and honest portrayal of homosexuality in a country that still feels uncomfortable around the subject (more so than in many other countries). More time is spent on feelings, rather than romance and sexuality, allowing the pace of the film to remain quiet and thoughtful for the majority of the film. With the inclusion of bullying, it obviously goes to some darker places, as allegiances shift in unfortunately very recognisable fashion.

Despite the hard hitting subject matter, and genuinely passionate relationship that comes to light, NIGHT FLIGHT’s climax is extremely overblown. It seems that so many tragic tales of homosexuality have to end in such a way in a way that raises more questions about antagonists and seems more concerned with shocking the audience. There seems to be no real build up to the fate of certain characters. Although at home crafting well rounded protagonists, Leesong Hee Il’s antagonists are left with little explanation or understanding for either themselves or the audience. Whereas such violent assault seemed to be the core turning point in a film such as HAN GONG-JU, here it’s just the final addition to make sure you are repulsed by homophobia, sympathetic towards Yong Joo, and hate the bullies, not realising the fact that the film had already argued its case perfectly.

NIGHT FLIGHT is a great little film for two thirds, but the final act just feels like emotional blackmail. Still, Leesong’s handling of the subject is mostly honest and blunt, with lots of room for discussion. His drifting camera work presents us with many a brilliant shot, most notably in the beginning, and one that at least adds a sense of dreamlike disconnect from the brutal closing. Although short on answers and more of a catalyst for discussion, NIGHT FLIGHT can very well be teamed with a number of films to suggest a much needed disturbance in the youth of Korea. A movement that perhaps might be the first ripples in a stand against taboo subjects and traditional thinking.

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