낙원의 밤

I finally watched Night in Paradise, underrated beauty premiered for the first time at the 2020 Venice Film Festival but still quite unknown among the general public. The story follows the archetype of the classic Yakuza movie but with a softer, melancholic feeling attached. In some ways, it’s an allegory of life and death. Two elements that are constant in the whole movie. Despite the classicality, the movie manages to stay fresh and deliver an outstanding visual experience.

Main protagonist is probably Jeju, the small island off the coast of South Korea. I never realized how beautiful that island was. The sensual cinematography really manages to capture its exotic and mysterious feeling. It’s a perfect location for this raw and solitary movie, and somehow it remind me of the desolation and despair that can be often perceived from Scandinavian noir, where human emotions are completely overwhelmed by the surrounding nature.

The island really convey that sensation of alienation and isolation from the outside world. You’re left alone fighting your own demons and there’s no helping hand to save you from this fight.

Even the relationship with the people around becomes difficult in these circumstances, as in the case with the complicated feelings between Tae-gu, the main protagonist and Jae-yeon, the girl that is hosting him on the island.

The movie is a beautiful tale of life and death. And, as in the classic mobster tradition, it also explores the journey through a path of loyalty, betrayal and redemption of the main protagonist (and lots, lots of blood). But most of all, it was a really beautiful cinematographic experience with long shots of the silent landscapes and close-ups of people’s emotions. Dark and poetic. Recommended.

Visuals: ★ ★ ★ ★

Screenplay: ★ ★ ★

Overall: ★ ★ ★ ★