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Cast:
Jang
Dong-Geon
Go
So-Yeong
Lee-Yeong-Ran
Han
Na-na
Kim
Jung-ki
Shin
Joo-ri
Writer:
Jo
Myeong-Ju
Producer:
Koo
Bon-Han
Jang
Yoon-Hyun
Director:
Park
Dae-Young
Score:
 
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LOVE
WIND, LOVE SONG
AKA:
Wind Of Love ||
Wind Of Song
Year:
2001 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
If
ever there was proof needed that an appealing leading pair and
a gentle tenderness can effectively paper over the cracks
inherent in a thin premise 'Love Wind, Love Song' would be it.
The all-too easily forgotten facet of subtlety - a technique
long since ignored here in the West - is at the heart of this
simple, yet effortlessly watchable love story that is far more
reliant on characterisation than the noise and fury of
calculated incident.
With
a mysterious motive in mind, emotionally fragile Seoul
businessman Tae-hie decides to take a short break in the
romantic island of Cheju. Not long after reaching his
destination, Tae-hie foils a bag-snatch outside the airport
and subsequently comes into contact with lonely tour guide
Young-seo. Despite their respective emotional baggage, the
pair quickly become friends and decide to spend some time
together touring Cheju and the other outlying islands. Young-soo
soon nurses an affection for the quiet and mild-mannered
visitor, but finds her companion far more cautious about how
he feels. The potential relationship reaches a stand-still
when Tae-hi's real reason for visiting Cheju becomes clear and
Young-soo is left wondering what is really under his
phlegmatic surface.
The
first thing to admit about 'Love Wind, Love Song' is that, in
the pantheon of romantic dramas, this is a lightweight entry.
There are no sweeping moments of emotional resonance and
hardly any real incident or epiphanies. Indeed, this Korean
drama is the very essence of the oft-used phrase 'slow-burn'.
The narrative is very leisurely, almost deliberate, taking a
good half hour of exposition before it begins to grip. Even
then it is a very slight storyline with a brittle relationship
at the centre that hinges on the charisma of its stars.
Despite
the frailty of the premise - perhaps because of it - 'Love
Wind, Love Song' retains a gentle dignity that makes the
viewer root for the central protagonists. We're always aware
that, due to the nature of the genre, a union is almost
certain, the journey to the conclusion, though, is fraught
with obstacles that conspire against our couple. The
closing twenty minutes may be a rehash of the usual 'will
they, wont they' rush to be with one another, but by this
point we have developed a feeling for both Tae-hie and Young-soo
that means we are just eager to see a happy resolution.
The
fact that the awkward pacing of 'Love Wind, Love Song' never
jeopardises the entire film is an accomplishment. The main
reason for this is that the love story is believable and has a
subtle realism that few achieve. Perhaps taking the story out
of the usual Seoul setting helps this; the haunting landscapes
of the outlying islands makes the overall feel of the
production fresh and inviting. While it may ultimately be a
weakness for the film to have little real incident, it could
also be seen as a benefit to the smooth running of the focal
storyline. The onus is on the two characters and the time they
spend together, getting to know each other and slowly falling
in love. There are a few minor sub-plots present, but the
narrative is simple and not distracted by much exterior drama.
This bare-bones execution may not be to all tastes though it
does allow us time to familiarise ourselves with the lead
pair.
'Love
Wind, Love Song' is given extra impetus by the performance of
its stars, in particular Go So-Yeong who is effortlessly
charming as the lovestruck Young-seo. Though her character may
appear a little too desperate for companionship, it is not
difficult to warm to her after just a few minutes of the
actress' fine work. Her charisma plays a significant part in
the success of this modest, yet thoroughly heart-warming
drama. This may not be substantial cinema, but it is
impossible not to care about Park Dae-Young's efforts.
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