It was about four years ago I already had the desire to write a review on this Korean movie. This movie was originally released in 1998 and... Man! Time is really fleeing! Anyway, as I am convinced that good movies are timeless. So is Christmas in August.
The story is a simple one. Jung Won who was photo shop owner in his thirties knew that he was going to die soon. He choosed to stay in his little photo shop. Every day customers came in and Jung Won patiently served them and tried to find joy in every little thing of life.
One day Darim, a young pretty lady, walked into his photo shop. Darim and Jung Won fell in love with each other. But the word "I love you" never came out of the mouth of Jung Won as he knew he was going to die. One day Jung Won situation deteriorated quickly and was rushed to the hospital. Darim, unaware of Jung Won illness, came to his photo shop just to see him. She was surprised to find the shop closed. Jung Won was laying ill in the hospital for many days. Nonetheless, he did not express that he missed Darim and wished to see her. Darim saw that his photo shop was closed for such a long time and her heart was broken as she did not know his whereabouts.
It was a painful sight to see Darim suffering such a heartache. It looks like Jung Won was playing a brutal game with her. But what he was doing was finally going away, leaving his family, his friends and the woman he loved but could not tell.
The atmosphere in this movie was calm and natural. Its strength lies in its simplicity and purity. Christmas in August has put Korean movies in the limelight and set the trend for a new generation of original artistic movies in Korea.
Yee Chuen Leung
Chief Editor
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