Directed by: Kim Jong-kwan (김종관)
Starring: Han Ji-min (한지민), Nam Joo-hyuk (남주혁)
Release Date: December 10th, 2020
Josée, the 2020 Korean remake of the much loved Japanese film Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (2003) comes highly anticipated with its popular lead actors Han Ji-min & Nam J00-hyuk in the lead roles and promises warm tender moments filled with touching emotions surrounding the offbeat relationship between a confident university student and a poor handicapped woman in despair.
While the end result retains the core story framework and central characters of the Japanese original, it surprises with its darker and arguably more mature approach to the story that strips away much of the charm and humor of the original. But on its own, the Korean Josée remains a strong dramatic work that nearly overwhelms in its attention to on-screen detail of its locations and environments. While this all might sound like a drawback, when all is said and done and Josée begins to roll its credits, one can’t help but feel the emotional weight within. Josée is a carefully crafted and moody romance film that largely works thanks to the multilayered performances from its leading actors.
