AshUnow
This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
Roy Hart
If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.
Rosie Searle
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
seronjaa-797-313124
I don't know if it was because of the subtitles or the story is just weird- but I can't see how these guys fell in love with each other. It's a weird gay version of Pretty Woman. I think the dialogues could have been written better. One guy is a stalker and falls in love with the other for no reason, like it was love at first sight and the other hates him for no reason and then they're magically in love and what to say about the end?! I can't imagine something like that being romantic. It's not just a small mistake where you can say- I'm sorry and move on. I liked the actors and the atmosphere in the movie, the story itself isn't that bad but it's still weird. The movie was for me like talking to one of those people, you can't really talk with so you try but never come to common ground.
citronellaa
Well this film outlines conservative culture in South Korea that I have heard of from a South Korean. Homosexuality is not widely accepted, men are expected to marry.The film has a kind of strange and dark nature, at times. There is a death, almost a murder, and of course, prostitution. We see the desperation of a man who feels he is not worthy due to his lack of education, and simple rural background, fall into a prostitution ring for money.A man from his previous non-prostitution workplace takes a liking for him, but eventually follows suit, giving into his parents demands - who he is financially dependent on - to marry a lady. I found this disappointing, as the two main characters were getting on well. But by the time he changes his mind, his lover already has other, very twisted plans, and is accompanied by an equally mentally troubled man to fulfill them. Thankfully at least, the plan is not completed.Overall I found this film too dark a storyline, cold in behavior, and at times the acting seemed stunted, in ways.
gradyharp
NO REGRET (HUHWIHAJI ANHA) is an impressive film from Korea, especially in that it is the first venture for writer/director Hee-il Leesong who gives evidence of not only a his ability to create a film that examines life in Korea in a verismo style, but also knows how to cast and direct a crew of actors in a polished manner. He is most assuredly a new artist to watch. NO REGRET takes many chances with the story of Korean orphans growing to the age of self- sufficiency without the guidance of parents, fending out a life with the sole support of their fellow orphans. The boys in this story come from the country with little exposure to the city life of Seoul and the tough choices that must be made to survive. The other side of the story reflects the wealthy young men who come from homes burdened with high expectations and preordained 'lives' of inheriting the family business, marrying the right girl, continuing the level of 'sophistication' to which they were born. NO REGRET places a member of each of these disparate groups together and the impact of opposite backgrounds is the thread that weaves so well through this love story. Lee Su-min (the remarkably gifted newcomer Young-hoon Lee) is the orphan who works at menial jobs until he finds a source of good money as a rent boy in a company called XLarge. Su-min adapts well as he is apparently comfortable with his sexuality: his fellow ex-orphans who work at XLarge present the gamut of types that find prostitution monetarily if not emotionally rewarding. At a chance encounter Su-Min meets Song Jae-min (Nam-gil Kim) and while the attraction is one sided at first, Jae-min is bound by family expectations to marry and take over the family business and has not come to grips with his sexuality. Fear and recognition of class differences keeps Su-min from responding to the near stalking Jae- min, but eventually the attraction blossoms and differences seem to disappear. The two young men have found love, but Jae-min must cope with the expectations of his family - the results being devastating to both men in different ways. How the relationship works through this rocky road is the essence of the film and to discuss the ending would be to destroy the impact of the film. Every aspect of this film - writing, directing, acting, lighting, music, editing - is first rate. No one who sees this film will be able to escape the impact of the characterization by Young- hoon Lee: his screen presence is magnetic and his range of acting is solid. He definitely is a rising star. As for writer/director Hee-il Leesong, here is a man who not only knows the art of story telling but also the sensitive insight as to the parameters of both economy and exposition when each element of the story calls. Highly recommended. Grady Harp
laweat
This movie gave me one of those very rare and difficult to describe experiences, where I was completely riveted during the film, then literally ecstatic afterward thanks to the artistic brilliance on display here. I saw it at the San Francisco Frameline film festival 6/07. Maybe my experience was personal, and maybe I just enjoyed the movie more than anyone in the audience that night, I really can't say. But wow! I wanted to jump for joy when it was over. So unique, inventive, fascinating, unexpected, beautifully acted (beautiful in all senses of the word), and with direction so insanely brilliant it was a gift to this movie lover. There are some great films coming out of S. Korea; this is one. See it if you can.
