Get ready to be immersed in the bleak world of Hopeless, the debut feature film written and directed by Kim Chang-hoon. This Korean slice-of-life drama is marked by a morose atmospheric tone that will force you to be a spectator in the dismal lives of others. While the story is ripe with promise, its progress is hampered by an overlong runtime, shoddy editing, and its inability to tap into any other feelings besides discontent.
The film follows 17-year-old Yeon-gyu (Hong Xa-bin) in Myeongan City, South Korea, as he gets into trouble at school and tries to save enough money to travel to Holland. But with everyone in his family making meager earnings, travel outside the city is a distant goal. Yeon-gyu turns to the local gang for work, steals mopeds from folks who owe money, and takes them to the chop shop. Through association, Yeon-gyu is now embroiled in all the elements of being a low-level gang member. This dangerous group of gangsters he’s involved with have their hand in the police force and politics as the big boss (Kim Jeon-soo) and his son Chi-geon (Song Joong-ki) work to get a national assemblyman re-elected. Yeon-gyu learns the ropes from Chi-geon, and the two develop a brotherly bond that is tested when things spiral, drawing the teenager into a world of bloodshed that he is not prepared for.
At 2 hours and 12 minutes, Hopeless feels like 3 hours. It goes around in circles, working to reach a point that never comes. Disjointed isn’t a fitting enough word to describe this plot with its many subplots that don’t see resolution. This can be attributed to the large number of characters to remember, with only one (Chi-geon) worth remembering or having anything resembling character development.
The cinematography by Le Jae Woo carries a grayish hue that makes the environment look dreary and rundown, and with solid directing from Kim, and could have used all these elements to great effect. However, all of that is undercut by Kim Sang-bum’s awkward editing style with the abrupt cuts in the middle of scenes and conversations and rough cuts in between time jumps that make a simple film challenging to keep up with narratively and visually.
With its needless violence and road-to-nowhere story, Hopeless is an apt title for this Korean slice-of-life drama. The story deals with disturbing subject matter, but the messaging isn’t all that impactful. While the premise had potential, the execution doesn’t work in tandem with the story, drawing the audience into 120 minutes of Yeon-gyu’s misery without offering much else.
If you’re looking for a film that will leave you feeling hopeful, this isn’t it. But if you’re in the mood for a dark and gritty drama that will make you think, Hopeless might be worth a watch.
Title: Hopeless
Section: Un Certain Regard
Distributor: Plus M Entertainment
Director-Screenwriter: Kim Chang-hoon
Cast: Hong Xa-bin, Song Joong-Ki, Kim Hyoung-seo
Running time: 2 hr 12 min
