Map Of The Seoul.
4 Episodes. Starring: Lee Ji-eun. Creator: Yoon Jong-shin.
Sweltering, scorching, scolding sun scored by cicadian rhythms sets off the first of four chapters to the new 'Persona' shorty story collection on Netflix. One that has nothing to do with global K-Pop supergroup juggernaut BTS, but is still a map of the soul, Seoul and ever chamber of the heart of South Korea. And just like those ideal, idol role models who spoke at the United Nations, this piece of entertainment takes one out of you with restorative, meditative power. As it looks straight in the face of the bereavement that comes with the social and national problem of suicide that over there, let alone the rest of the world has reached epidemic levels that need to be addressed. And from the sunbeam service of a net clipping tennis court in pre-Wimbledon season. To the game, set and match of a black and white, deep and dark fever dream in the mourning after death. The profoundly personal 'Persona's' by the quarter dynamic and diverse storytelling from four separate, definitive directors (Lee Kyoung-mi, Yim Pil-sung, Jeon Go-woon and Kim Jong-kwan respectively) has one thing in common. The same single actress playing each protagonist part. Yet so defiantly different in each of her episodic segments that you would be forgiven for thinking you were dealing with four individual actresses on the surface. Until under the skin you scratch deeper to what lies beneath in this amazing actors deep well of vast, still so untapped talent. And if you thought the pop power of V, J-Hope, RM, Jin, Jimin, Jungkook and Suga were sweet, then wait until Lee Ji-eun gets her licks in. Better known as IU, this South Korean singer/songwriter is the Maggie Rogers or Lana Del Rey of Korea. Behind huge albums like 'Real+' and 'Last Fantasy' (both released in 2011) IU began her career at age 15 with her debut album 'Lost and Found', whilst the Bangtan Boys were still in school. And her biggest hit 'Good Day' spent five week uptop the South Korean charts alongside another song. You may have heard it once or twice...it's called 'Gangnam Style'. But after starring in T.V shows and films like 'Dream High' and 'The Producers' the multi-talented, double-up star known as South Korea's "little sister" shows you growth like her captivated country and watching world have never seen the likes of before.
Anthology series' don't come more star studded or stellar than this one from Mystic Entertaininment CEO, Yoon Jong-Shin. Or respectful as this powerhouse was postponed out of respect for the victims of the Gangwon Province Fire. And you can see how fitting and important that was to do when you watch this and the chickens leave home instead to roost. Deuce drama of mixed double proportions break this series collection into play as Ji-eun decked out in a Wilson with the W upside down, preppy American throwback sweater her date would normally tie around his shoulders serves up one well of a match point with her rival downcourt. It's her father's partner and the stakes in this grass game played out as psychologically tense as chess? Yep you guessed it. The issue of whose the daddy. If she wins her pops lover has to leave him. But if Lee loses? She has to leave him too. It makes for one ace match of duelling drama like watching the Williams sisters sibling rivalry in their prime that could rival the movie 'Borg/McEnroe' with no let for service. We're going to need a bigger bottle of Evian. But if you thought that was a matchup nightmare than just wait until you get to the 'Collector' like Benicio Del Toro in Marvel's 'Guardians Of The Galaxy'. The longest of these 20 minute to half hour episodes and also the most out there in terms of its offbeat, head slicing nature that really goes for the gut. Lee Ji-eun plays a young woman as emotionally distant as swiping through your smartphone for your next lover or point of social media distracting interest. Arms reached across burnt bridges are closer. Her jealous boyfriend characterised in every way apart from the monster of green eyes, wants to know what the hell is going on like hiding behind joking emojis, memes and GIFs. But lost in this white noise emoticon over real emotion age of the social, the real devil is in the details here like who really are the angels and/or demons at the end of a relationship as toxic as the waste they lay to. It's a caustic cautionary tale on the love disconnect on our personal relationships illuminated by our desire for a connection to an impersonal "social" one. And Lee ji-Yeun's vampire-ish character really is out for blood and the heart of matters. At what point sitting on the iconography of what looks like a throne in this game of love. In something that shows grand gestures mean nothing if the demand for them is just for show like the face you put on Facebook, like the charm of trinkets on a chain that is delicate as the wrists they break. It's an all for nothing look at today and how we demand and take so much whilst offering little except a defensive response in return to a justified request. If love really is dead in the age of Tinder than the 'Collector' is the coroner's report. But if you thought this was what death really looked like...then just wait.
'Kiss, Burn' gets really close enough to sting however. As this 80's theme tune and Ghibli like mystery, not to mention the most tied up in a bow story and strongest strand of this books collection. Wrapped in mystery and shrouded in secrecy. Lee in a throwback sports jacket cycles up to her friends house after not hearing anything for days, leaving more unanwered messages than jilted lovers and broken hearts. Things get even more suspect when the grouchy, defensive father of her friend won't let her in and locks her out like, well...jilted hearts and broken lovers. Is there something sinister going on here? Or is shes really out? What really reveals is something you won't have thought or expected with the strong, sobering but laced with light storytelling so symbolic of South Korean cinema. In probably one of the slickest and smartest jewels of this collection. But with each element of these episodes being special and stronger in their own unique way, 'Persona' definitely saves the most personal, best and darkest for last with the black and white, 'Walking At Night'. Knocking you for six, seven and eight out of nowhere like BTS leader RM's inspired and introspective 'mono.' playlist collection closer and it's black and white music video artwork, 'Forever Rain' for all its depth of darkness and influence of introspection in a lost world of loneliness. Yet solitude doesn't yearn for the company that misery loves more than this black and white closing chapter. As this night walk between two lost lovers gets to the soul of what really made their hearts stop beating as one. As hand in hand they walk the blood red wine soaked cobbled streets of a romantic meal of an evening straight out of a Parisian square in this Korean town, bordered by the traditional temples that surround these chairs outside for smokers on a summers evening. Haunting like the one that got away. The shadows that collide with people in this one are your world shattering and the end result and final an-yong is as absolutely heartbreaking as not knowing that the last time may never bring a next time. Were "see you again" becomes "so long". And all that's left is the bitter sweetness of a perfect memory now lost to a perplexed pain. Of all of 'Persona's' personal journeys this is the most powerful and profound. If this Netflix drama scoops up awards like the Oscar winning 'Roma' then it will be because of this black and white piece of artwork. South Korea and Asian cinema as a whole have always had the edge over Hollywood in more emotively nuanced and subtle yet powerful storytelling over the medium of movies. Whether it be the 'Brotherhood' bond over the Korean war. The most powerful war film ever and yes I've seen the classic 'Saving Private Ryan'. Or even the depth and cinematic dynamics to genres like the zombie horror of 'Train To Busan' with all its humanity (like the 'Seoul Station's' animated prequel) and the 'John Wick' meets ''Atomic Blonde', 'Villainess' with a strong story only bordered by violence that takes both those Hollywood heroes rumoured for a collaborative movie round for round, clip for clip. But in this binge era of T.V. over movies in this 'Game Of Thrones' battle for seasoned storytelling where your phones become your new televisions, you've seen nothing quite like this collection which is not quite a series, more a season of change. And it's all thanks to the songwriter who makes these read scripts of acted accented stories sing. We owe I.U. more than an I owe you. Her acclaim deserves all the awards for all her parts, chapter and verse. Now that's personal. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Something In The Rain', 'Burning', 'Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories',
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