Gudseura Geum-suna

SAVING MY HUBBY(2002) D: Hyun Nab-seob. In Korea, a not-uncommon cash-grab scheme for unscrupulous bar owners is to drug already-tipsy patrons, then bill them when they wake up for ridiculous amounts of booze they never drank. On a night out with his new employers, business man Jun-tae (Kim Tae-woo of JOINT SECURITY AREA) is the victim of just such a con, and the only way out is for his wife Geum-soon (Bae Doo-na) - a former volleyball champ sidelined into a domesticity she wasn't prepared for after a shoulder injury - to stalk through a seedy, after-hours entertainment district, evade the minions of a gang boss she inadvertently pelted with a tomato, find the elusive bar, pay the debt with her fists and drag her childish husband back home before his parents arrive for dinner - all with her chubby little year-old baby daughter (who everyone assumes is a boy, much to her dismay) bouncing on her back in a baby-strap! Winning, high-concept race-the-clock action comedy allows for the heroine to cross paths with many of society's less fortunate souls and repeatedly outrun a handful of relentlessly altruistic henchmen, and one tellingly wordless encounter with a humiliated PR girl that speaks volumes about the treatment of immigrant bar hostesses in the country.

Mild social commentary aside though, there's much to enjoy here, and though many of the supporting characters represent the broadest mob comedy stereotypes, the entire secondary cast is memorable, right down to the cute old couple that runs the tent bar where Geum-soon spikes one of her husband's sexist co-workers clear across the room. Bae once again nails another quirky, tough-but-vulnerable role as a woman who battles through hell, often using cinematic ally enhanced techniques, for the sake of an existence she never truly expected, while Kim Tae-woo essays pitch-perfect man-child naivete as her weak-willed but loyal hubby. Only the ending seems somewhat fantastical. I give it an 8.

Gudseura Geum-suna aka Saving My Hubby (really "Be strong, Geum-sun") (HYEON Nam-seob, 2002)

One might write off this comparatively light-weight tale of a young-married house-wife having the worst day of her life as an amusing trifle (at best) except for two things -- the wonderful lead performance of BAE Doo-na and the excellent cinematography of CHOI Yeong-kwan.

Geun-sum (played by BAE) was a star volley ball player until her career was ended by a shoulder industry. Bereft of purpose after her injury, she is consoled (and gotten pregnant) by a nice, but rather gumption-less young man. Pre-occupied by sports, Geun-sum did not learn much in the way of house-keeping skills -- and it shows. The film begins with her husband getting ready to set off to work on a new job (after a long search) and looking for his good white shirt. Not only has Geun-sum forgotten to iron it, but she burns it (getting distracted by her year-old baby swallowing something she oughtn't). "Don't worry, it's on the back -- just don't take off your jacket and no one will notice it", she consoles her spouse. After he sets off for work, his parents call (from out of town), they will be arriving early the next morning for a visit. Rather than coming home promptly to help clean up their more than a little chaotic abode, her husband is compelled to go out dining and drinking and drinking... with his new colleagues. When he finally pulls himself away, over the objections of his new (not entirely well-wishing boss), he falls into the hands of an unscrupulous bunch of scammers (their game is picking up half-drunk victims taking them to their bar and running up an outrageously inflated tab -- then demanding that family members pay up promptly or else). The bulk of the movie consists of Geun-sum's effort to find the rather obscure dive of the blackmailers (all the while with Baby strapped on to her back) and get back in time to clean the apartment in time for the arrival of her dreaded (and apparrently rather "starchy") in-laws. Along the way, she winds up in the middle of a gang war -- and is pursued by some of the mobsters herself.

BAE Doo-na may have the biggest eyes of any actress I've ever seen. When her eyes are wide open (not a rare occurrence), she virtually has the appearance of an anime sweetheart. Her talent is not limited to wide-eyed gazing, however. She seems to have a wonderful sense of comedic timing -- but she can be as hard-nosed as she can be sweet and charming. I look forward to seeing her in many more roles.

SAVING MY HUBBY(2002) D: Hyun Nab-seob In Korea, a not-uncommon cash-grab scheme for unscrupulous bar owners is to drug already-tipsy patrons, then bill them when they wake up for ridiculous amounts of booze they never drank. On a night out with his new employers, business man Jun-tae (Kim Tae-woo of JOINT SECURITY AREA) is the victim of just such a con, and the only way out is for his wife Geum-soon (Bae Doo-na) - a former volleyball champ sidelined into a domesticity she wasn't prepared for after a shoulder injury - to stalk through a seedy, after-hours entertainment district, evade the minions of a gang boss she inadvertently pelted with a tomato, find the elusive bar, pay the debt with her fists and drag her childish husband back home before his parents arrive for dinner - all with her chubby little year-old baby daughter (who everyone assumes is a boy, much to her dismay) bouncing on her back in a baby-strap! Winning, high-concept race-the-clock action comedy allows for the heroine to cross paths with many of society's less fortunate souls and repeatedly outrun a handful of relentlessly altruistic henchmen, and one tellingly wordless encounter with a humiliated PR girl that speaks volumes about the treatment of immigrant bar hostesses in the country.

Mild social commentary aside though, there's much to enjoy here, and though many of the supporting characters represent the broadest mob comedy stereotypes, the entire secondary cast is memorable, right down to the cute old couple that runs the tent bar where Geum-soon spikes one of her husband's sexist co-workers clear across the room. Bae once again nails another quirky, tough-but-vulnerable role as a woman who battles through hell, often using cinematic ally enhanced techniques, for the sake of an existence she never truly expected, while Kim Tae-woo essays pitch-perfect man-child naivete as here weak-willed but loyal hubby. Only the ending seems somewhat fantastical. 8.