Christmas in August excels thanks in large part to the fact that it is a character-driven film. Plot takes a back seat, and we simply explore characters’ relationships with one another through various tribulations. Jung won (Han Suk-kyu) is a slightly geeky man who cruses around town on his vespa when not manning his photo shop. He dresses like a yuppie, but beyond this surface he is a sincere man that, in spite of a looming terminal illness, is generally pleasant and warm hearted. After attending a funeral, with the implication of this leading to thoughts of his own funeral and casting a shadow over his spirit, he returns to his shop late and depressed. Outside, a young woman traffic cop, Darim (Shim Eun-ha), waits with an urgent need for enlargements. At first he shrugs her off, but when she leaves it there and goes outside to wait, he goes ahead and does it for her first thing. To make up for his unusual behavior, he waits with her outside and gives her an ice cream bar. Here, their “relationship” begins. I dare not to delve to far into the specifics upon which their quasi-romance proceeds, because viewing each interaction with full ignorance allows for anticipation to build and the relationship to feel personal to the viewer. Christmas in August is also littered with sub-plots that further explore Jung won’s character and human relationships as a whole. The scene where Jung won gets drunk with his longtime best friend and, in his drunken stupor, finally admits the fear that his illness puts in him is particularly touching and effective – he spits it out as a joke, but you can see and hear some of the sincere fear that it actually stirs in him. Another well done element that provides another window into Jung won’s character is where he tries to teach his father (Goo Shin) how to play a video. After many tries, his father still cannot seem to press the right buttons. Jung won tries to calm himself down, but can’t, and storms out of the room. Soon after, though, Jung won is at his desk, writing out large, clear instructions for his father on how to work the VCR. This sequence shows us even more how realistic a character Jung won is: his fuse is as short as most of us, and when it blows he soon regrets it.

Christmas in August is, amazingly, the first feature film by director Hur Jin-ho, who shares a writing credit with Oh Sung-ook and Shin Dong-hwan. While he strays away from the extreme violence or occasionally beautiful, stylized sequence, Hur Jin ho’s pacing and general shot structure feels quite similar to that of Takeshi Kitano. His taste for honesty through subtlety and complex relationships through simplicity, though, arguably exceeds even the most moving Kitano film. Though he uses no astounding colors, lights, or other visual tricks, Jin-ho captures the beauty of reality. The camera is not the focus, it is just a window into the world of these terrific characters and relationships. And Christmas in August is an insanely visual film; Jin-ho strays away from visual gimmicks, not visuals themselves. In the films final minutes, there is no real dialogue, and the story is moved along only by what he shows us. It is at this moment, too, that we finally feel as if we are one with the characters and allows for the ultimate tragedy to come across in a simple, honest, and never heavy-handed manner.

Christmas in August features two of the most amazing performances I’ve ever seen. Han Suk-kyu gives a beautiful and multi-layered performance. Even in his character’s moments of happiness, you can sense a bit of fear and sadness deeper within him. And when his character breaks down into emotion, he does a heart wrenchingly good job of it. In his unspoken, never fully realized romance with Darim, the fear that is otherwise a constant melts away. When he sits in the hospital, staring blankly out the window, denying that there is any woman that he loves, his eyes convey feelings so well that his longing and thoughts of Darim become your own. When he is finally released from the hospital and sees Darim out a window, Suk-kyu’s performance is matched with a brilliant decision from Jin-ho to make one of the film’s most moving and tragic scenes. I won’t spoil it for you with specifics. As Darim, Shim Eun-ha gives a simply spell binding performance. She almost reluctantly lures Suk-kyu in, and from that point forward you fully identify with her emotional mix of disappointment at Suk-kyu’s slowness, fearful anticipation of what their relationship might become, and anxiety at her own emotions. For most of the film, hers is the most restrained performance of all. The two most moving moments from her are the scene where she waits and paces outside the photo shop for Suk-kyu (it is pointless – at this point, he is in the hospital), eventually letting out all of her pain and anger at his disappearance by throwing a rock through a window, and the scene where she finally, though reluctantly, sheds a tear. Most amazing for both of the performances is that they don’t come great performances; they come as reality.

Christmas in August is a film that will deeply affect you. From the beauty of its characters to its poetically tragic, if predictable, finale, this is a film that will engage you on a level that few can. Korea is known for being able to craft dramas and romances that far surpass their Western (and other Asian) counterparts, and Christmas in August is one of the strongest arguments for that assessment. If you’re a fan of drama or romance, or can at least appreciate great performances and craftsmanship, you’re sure to fall in love with Christmas in August. It is a film that should be added to everyone’s “must see” list.

However, there's a darkside to Jung Wong's life that people, other than his sister and dad, are not aware of. He has a serious illness and recent visits to the health clinic hints that his time is almost up, in fact, it's just days away. What's really ashamed is that he has a new customer named Darim, a lovely meter-maid, who he gains an immediate interest in. After numerous visits to his photo lab, she also develops her own kind of attraction towards him. The two grow a little closer to each other as they start to go on friendly dates that include sharing ice cream and taking long, romantic walks on rainy days. Because of Darim, Jung Wong may be at the peak of happiness - but things start to go awry for him as he puts the reality of his serious illness between them.

Not only does his illness affect the relationship with Darim (Shim Eun-ha), but it also affects his relationship with his father, sister and old friends. At one point, Jung Wong is teaching his father how to use a VCR. Because of his father's old age, he can't grasp his directions - even after numerous explanations. Unable to tolerate his father's ability to learn, Jung Wong loses his patience, yells at his father and walks off. The next scene has Jung Wong writing detailed instructions on how to operate a VCR on a large piece of cardboard. The fact is, Jung Wong didn't actually lose patience towards his father. He was reacting to the fact that his life is going to end soon, and he's not going to be around to help him with simple things like 'working a VCR'. He soon does the same with his equipment at his photo lab, which he knows someone may take over when his time comes.

As I write this review, my feelings for this movie have grown to a more positive side. Not only did I have a better understanding for the 'moral' (if any) of the film, but I realized my appreciation for it as I was putting it in writing. The truth is, when the film ended the night I watched it, I had mixed feelings. In fact, I nearly hated it. It's definitely a slow-paced film and there aren't too many scenes that get your attention, but for the very few that do, they grab your heart. It's one of those films that make you recognize the quality of your life a little more. It also makes you more grateful for not having health problems while something very important is going on in life, like falling in love. And that's what "Christmas in August" is, a love story.

Fine performances by Han Seok-Kyu ("Shiri" and "No. 3") and Shim Eun-ha ("Art Museum by the Zoo" and "Interview"). They both would re-team a year later in the Chang Yoon-hyun's thriller "Tell Me Something".