Set Me Free review [LKFF 2015]: “This is all about Choi’s phenomenal and layered performance.”

Set Me Free review: May not exactly know what it wants, but that’s kind of the point.

Taking place in a home for children whose parents are no longer able to care for them Set Me Free follows Yeong Jae (Choi Woo Sik), a boy who goes by his baptised name of John, and wishes to join the seminary and eventually become a priest. But John holds a secret, as he frequently steals from his home’s storage facility, selling trainers to his school friends. This act is cleverly represented as almost having no meaning for John. He treats others well and never seems to use the money he makes from his dealings, suggesting that his crimes have a more subconscious drive.

Despite being 25, Choi is never doubtful as a teenager. He captures a remarkable innocence and confusion that endears us to him. We become just as contemplative and as confused as John himself, as we’re never entirely sure as to whether he truly believes in God, or wants to become a priest. As his life is gradually revealed, and gradually unravels, we begin to experience more understanding, but still without definite answers.

John becomes conflicted when fellow houseboy Beomtae (Shin Jae Ha), is kicked out for stealing from the church, and John’s real father (Kim Su Hyeon) starts showing up and requesting more time with John. These events unsettle John, and it’s these plot points that propel this character driven drama. It’s very refreshing to see a film that has no obvious end game. John may have dreams for a future career, but we don’t know if that’s what he truly wants. His current plan seems to be to stay in his current care home and not return to his real father.

The plot may not be well formed or executed, but the script is far more concerned with exploring these emotions. South Korean teen dramas are often very dark and, like any teen going through hard times, are more mature and less innocent than the young characters deserve. Han Gong Ju, and Thread Of Lies are two similar films that like Set Me Free managed to avoid melodrama or a cheesy lack of understanding. In some respects John is a victim, but he also does very little to help his cause. At the same time though, we wonder what he can actually do given his age and status.

The film is sparse on music, with only the simplest of notes being incorporated, which never interfere with the plot or our emotions to a huge degree. Meanwhile the camerawork and cinematography is also very subtle and unintrusive. This film is all about Choi’s phenomenal and layered performance. He takes us on a truly tiring journey but one we can’t help but feel for.

Thankfully, director Kim Tae Yong never forgets to litter the film with moments of hope. John is given chances to repent, he bonds with his real life younger brother, he meets a tutor who is willing to support him, and so forth. The film is more critical of society than it is of our protagonist, and how unrealistic expectations and constant pressure to think of the future can lead to confusion and uncertainty. There’s a bleak desperation for love throughout, with John wanting to please everybody else other than himself. Heartfelt and stirring, Set Me Free may not exactly know what it wants, but that’s kind of the point.

Set Me Free review by Luke Ryan Baldock, November, 2015.

Set Me Free screened at the London Korean Film Festival 2015 as part of their Busan International Film Festival strand.