Korean DVD Releases
Since this is a UK site, I am trying to limit the reviews I do to UK releases, but there are times where I want to review a film that hasn't got a UK release, so this page will be dediated to that. If needs be, I will dedicate a whole set of pages to Korean release reviews, but at present, I don't want to overcommit myself.
200 Pounds Beauty (미녀는 괴로워)
Director: Kim Yong-hwa (김용화)
Scriptwriter: Noh Hye-yeong (노혜영)
Starring: Kim Ah-joong (김아중), Joo Jin-mo (주진모), Kim Yong-geon (김용건), Seong Dong-il (성동일), Im Hyeon-sik (임현식) & Lee Han-wi (이한위)
Duration: 120 mins
Korean Release Date: 14th Decmeber 2006 (8 weeks in top 10)
Korean DVD Release Date: 20/04/2007
Korean Admissions: 6,128,392 admissions (11/02/2007)
Distribution: ShowBox
Is it coincidence that yet another sleeper-hit dominates the box office at the onset of the year? In 2006 we had The King and the Clown; now we have a different kind of beauty. Although it didn’t break the ultimate record, The King and The Clown broke, it caused grave concern for those involved in other films released during its 8 week duration in the top ten.
From looking at the posters and hearing the gossip, one does get the impression it is a Korean remake of Hollywood film, Shallow Hall
starring Jack Black. Although it seems to follow this path for about 20
minutes or so, it goes in a completely different direction.
Ha-na (Kim Ah-joong (김아중))
has a beautiful voice, but she is ‘overweight’ and thus can’t been seen
singing. Consequently she sings under the stage, whereas a typically
slim figure, Ami is miming on the stage – this is being coordinated by
manager Sang-jun (Joo Jin-mo) (주진모).
Ha-na also has a big crush on him, but is far too shy to approach him
in that way. Because of her beautiful voice, in her spare time Ha-na
works as a telephone sex operator.
Once she realises her manager is only being nice to her because of her
stunning voice, she bribes one of her telephone clients who is a
well-established plastic surgeon to operate on her. She then becomes a
very attractive young lady and soon realises her world is about to
change, but not necessarily for the better
In
many ways the film is very cliché, but it works very well. Plastic
surgery and its relationship to beauty is a very contentious issue in
Korea, yet people have no issue in doing it, as long as no one knows
about it. The director is frequently addressing this paradox: society
wants females to be stunning and slim, but plastic surgery is seen as
cheating. He also challenges how society quite often rejects
individuals after discovering a hidden past, whether it is undergoing
plastic surgery or something else. By the conclusion of the film, he
provides viewers with an authentic portrayal of society as well as
providing some sort of solution. 
He
achieves this through a very long duration for a film of this kind,
which is full of ups and downs – from hilarious moments, quite
literally to scenes where tears will begin to fall down your face. But
this is only possible through the wonderful performance of Kim Ah-joong (김아중) and competent directing by Kim Yong-hwa (김용화)
. Supporting roles are also excellent and it is only though these roles
that laughs come in left right and centre. Furthermore the strong
chemistry between these roles and that of Han-na enables the film to
spread its branches and therefore prevents it from being too shallow.
The director wisely doesn’t include too many supporting roles, so
characters can be fully developed.
"it won’t be long before you are dragged
into this compelling, hilarious and ultimately moving tale of an
individual integrating into Korean society."
Being
a film that follows a musical theme, the soundtrack is a necessary
requirement in any film, not least in this one. It is arguably one of
its strongest elements and the song Maria! Will stick with you for a
very long time. Indeed, you can’t go far in Seoul, or anywhere in Korea
for that matter without hearing it from somewhere. Even the pantene
adverts were screaming Maria! by Kim Ah-joong (김아중)
before the film was released! It might not be a new song, but since it
is performed so well, you can forgive the lack of originality. 
The
only weakness the film exhibits is its ‘cheesy’ feel, which will annoy
some, but it won’t be long before you are dragged into this compelling,
hilarious and ultimately moving tale of an individual integrating into
Korean society.
Being it a stage event, to fully experience
the film, it is important to view it in a cinema. However, a release of
this film in the UK is not likely, though not impossible, but
nevertheless, it is more probable that most will view it on DVD.
Therefore if a Korean festival comes its way, like it will in London
this year and possibly beyond, if this film is on show, it is probably
in your best interest to give it a look.
* * * *
JASON BECHERVAISE