In Between Seasons Movie Review

Movie: In Between Seasons (환절기)

Director and Screenwriter: Lee Dong-eun

In Between Seasons is the remake of a graphic novel by Lee Dong-eun.

Cast:- Bae Jong-ok, Lee Won-geun, Ji Yoon-ho, Seo Jung-yeon, Park Won-sang, Park Hye-jin and others.

About the Movie:-

A story about two friends who spend a lot of time with each other, who mean a lot to each other, who end up falling in love with each other and who cannot tell the world what they are to each other.

Yong-joon frequents his visits to Soo-hyun’s house and soon the latter’s house is his hangout spot. Soon Soo-hyun’s mother Mi-kyung becomes quite fond of Yong-joon. Even during the time when Soo-hyun enlists in the military, his mother spends time with Yong-joon. The three grow closer with each passing day. One day, Yong-joon and Soo-hyun take a road trip which ends in disaster. A road accident puts Soo-hyun’s life in danger and he ends up in a coma.

The story takes a turn when Mi-kyung finds out the truth about the relationship between her son and his friend. She demands Yong-joon to put an end to his relationship with Soo-hyun who is still in a coma in the hospital. The relationship between the three characters in the later part of the movie is a rollercoaster of emotions and tears.

(*This review may contain spoilers. If you have already watched the movie, please continue reading. If you haven’t watched the movie yet, you can still continue reading or you can come back to the review later.)

What I loved about the movie:-

The movie is a wonderful representation of human relationships, emotions and sentiments. The characters develop a strong bond with each other and this bond is put to test when things become difficult in life. The three characters struggle with stress, agony and discomfort when they come face to face with truth and revelations. Just when you think that everything around you is sorted, life throws you a curveball.

The movie calls our attention to the modern day views on same gender relationships. It talks about our ability to open our minds to the changing world and our willingness to evolve, to learn and to grow along with that world. The characters too, just like the world around, deal with the same gender relationships, their identities and the acceptance of it all. Change is the only constant in life and with change we become better and whole.

I love the developments in the relationship between Mi-kyung and Yong-joon when Soo-hyun is unconscious in the hospital. These characters hold on to a lot of pent up emotions and they are deep rooted. There is love, care and kindness in the hearts of all three but also anger and a feeling of loneliness. This anger and loneliness gives rise to bitterness towards others and towards ourselves and it is very difficult to fight. The hurt and unhealed wounds and traumas are eating up the three characters just like many of us.

The Characters, the Actors and the Director:

My favourite thing about the movie is the casting. Bae Jong-ok as Mi-kyung (Soo-hyun’s mother), Lee Won-geun as Yong-joon and Ji Yoon-ho as Soo-hyun have given striking and impressive performances. When the story focuses on fewer characters, it is both easy and difficult to hold all the attention of the viewers. It is easy because there are limited complications of deviations in the plot. It is difficult because now the fewer characters need to deliver breathtaking performances to make the movie watching and the movie itself a memorable experience. The three actors are beautiful in the movie. The characters are intense and complicated. The powerful performances by the actors is equally intense.

Director Lee Dong-eun has written a very captivating story. It is emotional yet very powerful. He has managed to present a very important and sensitive topic in a clear, refined and a polished manner.

In Between Seasons is a very beautiful movie with a strong meaningful storyline.

Are we willing to put the struggles and the pain behind and heal what has been hurt and move into the light that lies ahead or has the darkness consumed us all beyond recovery?