A first love pic set in a South Korean village in 1963, The Harmonium in My Memory starts out looking routine but develops into a richly drawn and emotionally satisfying light drama consistently enlivened by a semi-comedic tone. Based on a semi-autobiographical novel, this is the first feature by former TV director Lee Young-jae. Sanri is a small backwater populated by colourful yokels and illiterate families, whither arrives 21-year-old Kang Su-ha (Lee Byung-heon), a klutzy, nervous teacher. The local elementary school has unruly classes and a staff that's as weird as they come. Also joining the teaching ranks is the demurely beautiful Yang Eun-hi (looker Lee Mi-yeon), toward whom Kang, once he's found his feet, starts making faltering advances. This doesn't sit well with one of Kang's pupils, awkward but rebellious teenager Yun Hong-yeon (Jeon Do-yeon), who's from a poor family and is consistently bullied by her mother (Song Ok-suk). The 17-year-old Yun, through whose eyes the story is partly told, develops a major crush on Kang, which complicates his attempts to chat up Yang -until events take an unexpected course. Pic has a nice feel for its era (just prior to South Korea's aggressive modernization) and the realities of country life, without overdoing the pastoral setting or romantic angst.
Derek Elley