Breathless (Ddongpari) is Yank Ik-Joon’s first written movie, in which he also directs and stars in a grimacing tale about domestic violence and abuse.
Song-hoon (played by Yank) is a merciless debt collector who seems to enjoy beating people up and also using the word “c**t”, which is subtitled plenty of times in the film. One of the scenes involves him beating up another person for beating up his girlfriend, and then Song beats his own girlfriend up, using the ‘c’ word to describe her.
The violent scenes are quite frontal. There’s not really an attempt to hide the violence, and it almost seems promoted, and that abusive parents automatically turn the children abuse. It does happen, which what makes the film very real, but its almost stereotyping.
Song does meet someone who is just as hard-headed as he is. Schoolgirl Yeon-Hue (played by Kot-bi Kim) also has that defiant attitude. However, instead of a traditional, romantic meeting from across the road or river, Song spits on Yeon’s tie. Romantic or what?
The ‘beauty’ of the story is that both Song and Yeon have come from abusive pasts, and either of them do not know it. It really gives the reader a look into how everyone deals with problems, and that they try to deal with their inner demons together and they do not know it, in its own slightly disturbing way, is almost touching. Almost
In conclusion, if the violence and explicit swearing can be dealt with by the viewer, then the film is a very good watch. The acting by the two leads is very good, showing real raw emotion, and the film also puts out a darker side to the world, with every action having a reaction, much like reality. I’d definitely recommend if you want to see real, pure acting, or just to brush up on your swearing!.
