Yongsoon (2016)

Yongsoon: Directed by Joon Shin. With Yeo-jin Choi, Choi Deok-moon, Kim Dong-young, Jang Hye-jin. Yongsoon, an 18-year-old high school student, is a daring, fearless girl who falls in love with the coach of her school’s athletics team. When she discovers that he has a lover, the pain is almost too much for her to bear. To make matters worse, her father brings home a new wife. In an effort to bring about a resolution, Yongsoon tells the coach that she is pregnant with his child and decides to meet his lover to finally settle things. They meet in a classroom, together with the coach and Yongsoon’s new stepmother. Can Yongsoon win back her love?

“This movie is very good in my opinion. Iu0026#39;m surprised so little is known and written about it. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt tells its story simply and realistically, of a young girl who seems destined by her birth to have to try hard to hold on to what she thinks is hers in her life. The director balances and paces the story excellently, achieving a light tragic-comic tone without slipping into farce or melodrama.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eLee Soo-kyung gives a credible and commendable performance as Yongsoon. She conveys the characteru0026#39;s suppression of her hurt and pain with anger and determination using just the right amount of expression, never artificially forcing it or going over the top. It is likely also due to director Shin Joonu0026#39;s handling and guidance.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI would also like to commend director Shin Joonu0026#39;s good judgment in not piling more on any scenes for bigger effects, even though he had plenty of chances to. What results is an honest, unpretentious and touching tale of a young personu0026#39;s very strong need to overcome what she perceives as unfairly dealt to her in life.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI would love to see more of writer/director Shin Joonu0026#39;s works. But given how little received this film is, Iu0026#39;m sadly not optimistic on it.”