Auld Lang Syne

Original Title: 올드 랭 사인
Release date: 2007
Director: Joon-Moon So
Screenplay by: Joon-Moon So
Cast: Kil-ho Kim, Tae-hoon Lee

Auld Lang Syne follows two Korean men that used to be lovers, as they meet once again by chance. In it, Chang-sik (Kim) is sitting, minding his own business, when he sees Sung-tae (Lee) asking for food.

Life seems to have been tough for Sung-tae, who seems distant compared to the eagerness of Chang-sik. It is just a bit later when their relationship starts becoming more than just friends, and it’s devastating. Here you have two grown men, who seemed to have been really close, but meet as strangers living separate lives.

Both of them care deeply about each other and are trying to recapture what they once had.

Finally, Chang-sik’s daughter-in-law calls him up wondering where he is and if he’s had dinner. He obviously moved on by having a family, and this is the breaking point for Sung-tae.

A short like Auld Lang Syne, though more about the drama and the decisions people make, also shows us how society’s prejudice can make someone pick the wrong choice and have to live with it.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Buy the Korea Short Film Queer Collection 1, which includes Auld Lang Syne.

Part of the Korean Film Blogathon by newkoreancinema.com

Ghost Writer

Here. There. Everywhere. Punished soul that usually watches what nobody wants, but sometimes gets lucky.

3 Responses

  1. amy says:

    Was a little taken aback by this story at first, but it definitely gets better with a second or multiple watches. It’s more sad! It’s almost as devastating as Brokeback Mountain without the violent death.

  2. This is definitely one I’ll have to check out. It looks absoltuely heartbreaking.

    • ghost says:

      @Camiele White, there’s a link above where you can buy the short films collection… you might be able to find it in some library, but it’s doubtful. I was only able to find one of the shorts on YouTube… not this one.

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