[HanCinema's Film Review] "Is It Love BAR"

Rang-hae (played by Min Chae-yeon) is initially portrayed as a high schooler hanging out with her best friend Shin-ki (played by Lim Ji-ho). Their mutual warmth and trust hints at an inevitable love confession. Then Rang-hae comes home to a parental divorce. From then on, Rang-hae is avoidant in the pursuit of romance. Yet ironically, in the present day she runs a cocktail establishment literally called the "Is It Love BAR" that is clearly geared toward provoking romance.

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"Is It Love BAR" is a surprisingly introspective little film that dives a lot into romantic philosophy. Rang-hae has a boyfriend who's she been living with for some time, and there's tension in the relationship because while he thought they were on the way to getting married, Rang-hae remains diffident any time the subject comes up. Rang-hae doesn't believe in marriage, not so much because she's traumatized, but because she doesn't much see the point.

And yet Rang-hae loves romance- or more accurately, is comforted by it. One cute scene in the park has Rang-hae wincing in discomfort as one couple erupts in a squabble. Rang-hae then surreptitiously moves closer to a different couple that's having a better time. For Rang-hae, emotional rupture is a form of stress, while general cuteness has a soothing effect. She's the kind of person who despite liking romantic movies is a generally unsatisfying partner, since she prefers aloofness to taking risks.

It's from this perspective that we get scenes in the cafe itself. Every day, by sheer concept, Rang-hae is watching her patrons taking risks and opening their hearts. In one moment, the couple mutually likes each other, admits to it, and there's a happy ending. In another, obviously flirtatious bashfulness is of no use in trying to appeal to a guy who's just not into her. And then one late moment, quite a powerful one, features a man making bold, aggressive overtures to a woman who is trying to push him away largely due to low self-esteem.

It's hard to guess where any individual scene is going because director Min Chae-yeon presents each one with a stark sense of tension and realism. No, of course the person confessing their feelings doesn't know if they'll be reciprocated. That's what makes the whole process so scary. And it's also what makes it so hard to tell when or if love is for real. Because what if you're just looking at divorce a few years down the line, all due to some not immediately obvious incompatibility?

I liked how even Rang-hae's own love story is quite ambiguous in its overall direction. The three potentials beaus she meets all have wildly different personalities and approaches. Rang-hae herself is too reactive and enigmatic to be easily read. Does she even want to be with anyone? In the end what Rang-hae wants is for someone to take a serious risk for her. To trust her, and respect her, even if she has trouble trusting and respecting herself. And that feels like what most of us want really.

Review by William Schwartz

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"Is It Love BAR" is directed by Min Chae-yeon, and features Min Chae-yeon, Lim Ji-ho, Lee Dong-hyub, Lee Chang-wook-I, Lee Ja-ryung. Release date in Korea: 2021/08/11.