Conduct Zero, set in the 1980s, centers around Joong-pil, who is the undisputed “king” of his high school due to his legendary fists. Through intimidation and stealing other kids’ money, he manages to do well for himself, until the day he falls in love with a bookish but audacious girl from the neighboring high school.
Based on a screenplay by Lee Hae-jun and Lee Hae-young (who, despite their similar names, are not brothers), Conduct Zero is one of the more creative and interesting comedies put out in recent years. First-time director Cho Keun-shik handles the story well, drawing strong performances from all of his actors and handling the quiet moments as well as he does the loud and outreageous ones. The film proved to be a hit at the box-office as well, despite a slow start and heavy competition from Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
Top marks for this film has to go to the actors, however. Real-life couple Ryu Seung-beom and Gong Hyo-jin are increasingly being recognized as the most talented among Korea’s young generation actors. They have starred together in TV dramas, but this is the first time they have appeared in the same movie. Ryu gives such life to his role that it’s hard to imagine how anyone else could have taken this part. Gong, as the boss of the neighboring girls’ high school, is just as convincing with her tough talk and her dawning realization that Joong-pil is dropping out of her social circle. Im Eun-kyung, meanwhile, plays the part of the love interest with an effective mixure of fragility and courage.
Even though foreign viewers will miss some of the film’s many references to Korean culture of the 1980s, Conduct Zero is one of the year’s most satisfying films and another interesting glimpse of how Koreans in their thirties remember growing up.
Darcy Paquet