Following in the minimalist footsteps of Christmas in August to offer another unique Korean romance over impossible boundaries a la Il Mare, Failan is a touching story of a relationship firmly pitted against circumstance.
Choi Min-sik and Hong Kong star Cecilia Cheung play the couple and provide achingly evocative performances to create a love that would otherwise appear non-existent. The story is woven through two periods of time, one in the past about a Chinese immigrant arriving in Korea with no home or job, the other about a Korean gangster stuck in an abused underling position, while his childhood friend has become his boss. The woman needs a sponsor to stay in the country, so for a small fee, the gangster indifferently weds her on paper and forgets all about it until he learns of her death.
It is here where the relationship actually becomes mutual, as the gangster takes notice of the tragic innocence, the strength and the love of Failan. The film is a tragedy from the start, but a gripping one at that. It has the appeal for fans of the aforementioned films and anyone looking for a different sort of melodrama.
It is beginning to feel quite repetitive to keep saying this, but this is simply another case of a Korean romance delivering a fresh premise that refuses to be gimmicky in favor of authenticity. Although it is difficult to appreciate this distant a romance fully, Failan succeeds on many levels and at the very least, proves to be quite interesting simply by taking a risk with something different.
Reviewed by Tarun
