No Regret

It's been three weeks since a new recommendation was added to the LA Time's "Critics' Choice" list despite the many summer blockbuster movies being released. Well, we're not about blockbusters necessarily anyway; sure we all like those too when we have the need or inclination to be entertained and to watch something that might not be intellectually challenging, but for this blog we're recording what the top critics think are the movies that will take more effort of us to watch but might leave us thinking about the movie and its provocations for some time to come.

So finally today something meets the grade. Kevin Thomas awards a "critics' choice" to the Korean movie "No Regrets"

An explosive debut feature from fearless Hee-il Leesong that has been heralded as Korea's first true gay film. An industrialist's son, engaged to be married, falls for a proud hustler, resulting in a tempestuous mix of melodrama and social comment on the tradition of Douglas Sirk and especially R.E. Fassbinder. In Korean with English subtitles.

Synopsis of "No Regret"
Leaving the country orphanage where he grew up, Sumin (Lee Young-hoon) goes to Seoul to study art design. Supporting himself with odd jobs, he comes to the attention of Jaemin (Lee Han), a man from a rich and conservative background. However, after losing his job at a factory owned by Jaemin’s family, he finds himself working as a prostitute in a gay bar. Initially Sumin resists the advances of Jaemin and views him with contempt. But soon he succumbs to Jaemin’s sincerity, and they experience brief happiness as passionate lovers. However, the relationship falls into heartache once Sumin discovers that Jaemin is to be married to a wealthy girl of his social class, as arranged by his powerful family. Sumin decides to thwart their plans by manipulating his friends into helping him carry out a dangerous scheme involving kidnapping and murder. The plan almost ends in tragedy as jealousy and possessive obsession take over one of the players.

Opened July 25, 2008 Runtime:1 hr. 54 min. R
Cast: Lee Young-Hoon, Lee Han
Director: Leesong Hee-il
Genres: Gay & Lesbian Films, Drama

Showtimes for "No Regret" for your zip code from Fandango.com