One of the most interesting and original Korean films of 2008 is categorized as a screwball comedy, but in truth it's rather hard to describe. As the most unpopular teacher in her school, with an embarrassing, chronic tendency for her face to blush bright red, Yang Me-sook's life is bad enough. But then it suddenly gets much worse. First she is demoted from teaching Russian in high school to teaching English in middle school, which is a problem because she can speak barely a word of the language. Then she discovers that another teacher in the school, the married Mr. Seo for whom she has always harbored a crush, is having an extramarital affair, with none other than the pretty Russian teacher who occupies her old job. Feeling devastated and betrayed, she declares war. Her first move is to befriend Mr. Seo's daughter Jong-hee, the most unpopular student at the school. Claiming she wants to save her father's marriage, Me-sook recruits the girl on a no-holds-barred mission to break up the affair. Complications ensue.
Viewers tend to either love or hate this film, partly because the experience of being inside Me-sook's mind is so intense. She rages at the world, constructs her own fantasy demons, and then, in the course of battling them, veers between obsession and despair. If Crush and Blush has a dominant emotion, it is an only barely contained hysteria. However director Lee Kyoung-mi is never out of control; the film's emotional swings are wild but executed with precision (save, perhaps, for the final confrontation at the end which is a tad indulgent). For a first time director, it's an impressive achievement.
Lee had some help in making her debut. Her 30-minute short Feel Good Story (2004), which won a stunning number of festival awards inside Korea (it remains one of my own favorite Korean shorts) caught the attention of Oldboy director Park Chan-wook. After inviting her to serve on the crew for Sympathy For Lady Vengeance, Park agreed to be her producer for Crush And Blush. He even turns in a lightning-quick cameo for those who can spot him. (A cameo by The Host director Bong Joon-ho, who once had Lee in one of his classes, is easier to catch)
No one can write about this film without at least mentioning the lead performance by Kong Hyo-jin (Family Ties). An extremely talented actress who is most often cast in supporting roles, Kong wavered at first when presented with this script, given the role's excesses. Reportedly urged on by fellow actress Jeon Do-yeon, she eventually accepted and threw herself into this role in a way that few performers can. Without the energy that she brings to portraying Me-sook, this film would surely not have worked. Quite rightly, she has won numerous acting awards in Korea for this performance.
Although its box office performance was a disappointment, this film has acquired a sort of cult status among Korean cinephiles. Screenings in Korea are met with uproarious laughter, though unfortunately some of the humor here is hard to translate. Meanwhile, director Lee has been identified as a director with real talent. Let's hope that her reputation among cinephiles and critics helps her to go on and shoot a second feature.
Darcy Paquet