 | MOVIE DETAILS • Name: A Day • Year: 2017 • Country: South Korea • Director: Sun-ho Cho • Main cast: Myung-min Kim, Yo-han Byeon, Hye-Sun Shin • Runtime: 90 minutes • Production company: Film Line • TRAILER (Not available) |
Korean fantasy drama A Day is the second movie we have seen this year at the Sitges Film Festival that has a plot similar to the wonderful and unforgettable Groundhog Day (1993), together with the American Happy Death Day (2017). Although the approach from both movies is different, they both deal with the stars of the film that find themselves to live their same day over and over again until they solve whichever conflict is going on. In the case of the movie we have in hands, a famous doctor finds himself trapped on the same day where he witnesses the death of his daughter. No matter what he tries to do, how fast he tries to drive or how many times he tries to call the little girl, that fatal accident always ends up happening. But soon he realizes he is not the only one trapped in this time loop, two other men are also living this bizarre hell.
Although the start point is already well known by the fans of fantastic movies, the plot twists from A Day are yet surprising and attractive. As happens in this new wave of Korean fantastic movies, writer and director Sun-ho Cho has a very good taste in building the ups and downs of the movie, playing with the audience and using tricks that kept us all glued to the chair. At least until the very end of the film, when the last 10 minutes were extremely cheesy and totally kills the intense mood of the rest of the running time. I must admit normally I am not a fan of happy endings, but the way the director was ending the story, a good end was fitting quite well. But hey, this one had too much sugar.
In more technical and artistic aspects, A Day rarely has an objection. Actors accomplish with their duty with the perfect dose of drama, thrilling and intensity. The cinematography and editing are good, take the viewer inside of the story and together with the well-built script keep the tension to the point the filmmaker’s desire.
In my opinion, the rating of this movie should be perhaps a little bit higher, but the sugar-coated ending really killed me. All the good sensations I was having for nearly one hour and a half vanished with the soap opera style final minutes. Still, if you are not as much of a bitter soul as I am and you don’t mind too happy closures, you might give it two thumbs up. But, overall, A Day is a very recommendable movie to watch.
RATE: 6,5/10
IMDB URL: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6890376
