Shin Suk-ki blues (2004)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Do-hyeok Kim

Writers:

Seong-hun Jeong (writer)
Do-hyeok Kim (writer)

Release Date:

31 December 2004 (South Korea)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Cast

Sung-jae Lee	...	Shin Suk-ki
Hyun-joo Kim	...	Seo Jin-yeong
Yi Shin	...	Miss Jang
Jong-hyeok Lee
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yeon-ju Kim
Seung-chae Lee		(as Ji-seong Kim)
Ji-young Ok

Runtime:

South Korea:108 min

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Color:

Color

Certification:

South Korea:15

Company:

Popcorn Films

Not your typical body-switch...

When I heard about this movie -- involving an extremely rich, cool and handsome (and cold-hearted) lawyer and a poor, homely, and clumsy (and warm-hearted) one who switch bodies in an accident; I thought that the star Lee Sung-jae would be playing both parts. Much to my surprise, however, he played only the homely one! (with an unknown actor much less handsome than the real Mr Lee playing the handsome one)

They both have the same names (Shin Seokki) and were born on the same day (I consider that plot overkill, but, oh well), but one is multi-talented, athletic and knows how to get his way, while the other is lazy, asthmatic and just barely gets by. Both, however, happen to be admired by slightly wacky women in their respective offices; the former which becomes the main woman and the latter comic relief.

On their birthdays, the rich Shin is approached by the receptionist in his office, and he immediately takes advantage of her and in a fit of anger, she puts a "curse" on him. Later that evening he finds himself in an elevator with the other Shin. The elevator falls several floors down, they both go into a coma, and, well, you guessed it. Handsome Shin awakes to find himself in the homely Shin's body, and the homely Shin is unconscious in the other body.

Shin soon finds out that the world is not nice to homely people; he also discovers how hated he actually was. He has no choice but to find the other Shin's life and try to live it. Since he has been in a coma, everyone assumes he acts out of it because of that, and he stumbles around in a strange body, strange clothes, and a strange and filthy apartment, with very strange neighbors and a struggling law practice.

Meanwhile, the receptionist is fired from her job at the office and she goes to homely Shin's law office as he is known for defending unpopular cases. Of course she has no idea it is the man she cursed, who she believes to be in a coma.

The movie basically follows a plot line of a man making up for his past mistakes and learning to live again with a different view on life. The movie was said to be made as a statement on the current theme of Korean culture these days which values looks over everything, but comes across weak in that way. I think of it more as one man's path to redemption as he learns how his lifestyle ruined people's lives and about the humanity of the people he once scorned.

There are a few confusing points, like an old friend (of the handsome Shin) who actually recognized him in the other body, An instrument shop apparently run by a ghost, and the presence of the girl's deaf mother. These bog down things a little, but fortunately not enough to bring down the movie completely.

Lee's acting ability is as always extremely impressive, not to mention the makeup job to make him actually look homely. He is one Korean star that can take just about any part and make it work. I hope more fans of Korean movies get a chance to see this one.