[HanCinema's Film Review] "Snowball"

Lee Hwan's "Young Adult Matters" about a group of girls trying to survive the streets of S. Korea, was one of the most popular Korean films last year, with its combination of mainstream visuals, exploitation elements and Kpop star Ahn Hee-yeon's casting working quite well for the film. Lee Woo-jeong attempts to do the same with "Snowball", in a more indie approach however.

"Snowball" is screening at New York Asian Film Festival

Kang-i, So-yeong, and Ah-ram are best friends who go to the same high school. Kang-i is the most "normal", having a good relationship with her parents, something that does not apply to Ah-ram, who seems to face a number of issues, including domestic ones, while So-yeong is the star of the school, being the tallest, the most beautiful, and a top student who also dreams of becoming a model. One day, they decide to run away from home, but they soon realize that life on the streets is not exactly easy. Ah-ram ends up being a victim of violence in a strip club she ends up working at, while the other two girls find themselves sick and hungry, although a kind of sapphic sentiment is evidently in the air. Eventually, they are forced to return, but the reception they receive is rather different for each one, while their relationship is changed for the worse. Eventually, violence ensues.

Lee Woo-jeong directs a film about the lives of three young girls, which, as mentioned in the beginning of themovie, were ruled by irrationality and violence. These two elements are the ones that essentially dominate the narrative, since the action of the girls, starting with their running away, cannot exactly be justified in any other way, with the intro, which suggests that their teacher abused them, being rather misplaced as a justification. And if their running away could be somewhat attributed to their young age and adolescence in general, what follows afterwards, and particularly the way So-yeong changes, seems utterly illogical, with the sole reason that could be interpreted as an excuse being one slightly fateful night during their "escape" which the girl seems to want both herself and Kang-i to forget as soon as possible. In general, the events that follow their return do not seem justified at all, while the flashforwards/flashbacks included in this part of the movie are somewhat misplaced, essentially disorienting the viewer about what or when it is happening, with Han Young-kyu's editing not helping particularly in that regard.

On the other hand, Kang-i's relationship with her parents emerges as the most interesting aspect of the movie. That her parents, and particularly her father, are always willing to forgive her, despite her repeated disappearances for long time periods, even if her mother's frustration grows each time, result in a very interesting comment that seems to state that lack of communication cannot be substituted by neither kindness nor forgiveness. Particularly the way her mother reacts each time, and her overall question about her daughter's attitude, is one of the best parts of the movie. This aspect, which actually extends to the other two protagonists, is essentially the only one that can be perceived as the root of their actions, since the lack of parental guidance, in various degrees and forms, is quite evident. The same applies to the school as an institution, and the teachers, who do not seem at all eager to understand and guide their students.

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Despite the issues with the characterization, particularly in terms of writing, the acting is on a rather high level. Bang Minah, from K-Pop stars Girl's Day, is rather convincing as Kang-i, with her interactions with her mother, her perplexion regarding So-yeong's behaviour, and her overall mentality of the "loser" being quite well communicated. Gorgeous Han Sung-min is also good as the archetype of the "bitch A-student" So-yeong, with her character also functioning as a comment on how cruel school kids can be, while Shim Dal-gi as Ah-ram is very convincing as the embodiment of her domestic issues.

Lee Jae-u's cinematography follows the rules of the Korean indie, focusing on realism without any particular exaltations, although a number of frames during the girls' escape are quite intriguing. Han's editing induces the movie with a slow pace that fits its indie aesthetics, although, as previously mentioned, a number of the movie's issues, including some unnecessary lagging during the end, derive from this aspect.

"Snowball" has its merits, with parts of the script, the acting, and a number of comments being well communicated. As a whole however, it does not make that much sense, with the sole "excuse" here being that it is Lee Woo-jeong's feature debut.

 

Review by Panos Kotzathanasis

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"Snowball" is directed by Lee Woo-jeong, and features Bang Minah, Shim Dal-gi, Han Sung-min, Yoon Hye-ri-I. Release date in Korea: 2021/09/01.