Okay. I watched this Korean movie, like, four years ago. It remains as one of my favorite movie ever and yet, I don't remember ever made a review about it (Did I? I don't know. My inability to remember trivial stuffs frustrates me sometimes) Anyway, the reason why I decided to talk about this movie now i because I just recommended Antique to one of my best friend who has just started to like watching Korean movies. One thing led to another, I found myself re-watching some of my favorite scenes from Antique and then I said to myself: well why not talk about this movie now? I love this movie anyway (That, and because I have too much time on my hand right now. I am on my semester break and I know I should have started those dreadful assignments right away or at least, read something to remind me that I am still a student but the urge to procrastinate is too powerful for me to overcome)
Anyway, Antique is a Korean movie that is based on a Japanese manga (I haven't read it yet so I don't know the title) and it tells a story about four incredibly handsome guys who work together in a bakery called (what else?) 'Antique'. The owner of this interesting bakery is Kim Jin Hyuk (Jo Ji-Hoon, korean drama lovers mostly know him as the Cold Prince in Goong), who is the only son of a rich family. Despite his cheerful appearance and boastful attitude, Jin Hyuk keeps a dark and mysterious secret from his childhood that leads him to set up the Antique Bakery. Later in the story, Ji Hyuk meets Son Woo (Kim Jae-Wook, my personal favourite. I can't talk about him without smilling now. I am completely smitten. Previously he played a role in Coffee Prince as the Japanese waffle person), the genius pattiseur who has been kicked out of his previous workplaces countless times. The reason for his dismissal is hilarious: because he always unintentionally makes every guys, regardless of their sexual orientation, fall in love with him. Awesome. Son Woo is gay and proud and he's got this sort of diva-like confidence that every man will fall for him (Well, I kinda understand why). Strangely enough, Ji Hyuk is the only one who is immune to Son Woo's devilish charm. Soon after both guys start the Antique Bakery together, Yang Ki-Beom (Yoon Ah-In of Sungkyukwan Scandal), the rebellious ex-boxer and troubled teenager, joins them as Son Woo's apperentice to learn the art of cake. And finally, completing the ensemble is Nam Soo Yeong (Choi Ji Ho), Ji Hyuk's clumsy and clueless bodyguard and the only person who knows Ji Hyuk mysterious childhood. Together, they create a relationship that makes me laugh out loud and smile from the beginning till the end.
Plotwise, Antique is a fresh and refreshing romantic comedy that happens to talk about homosexuality in a light way. It does not use homosexuality as an angst-inducer plot device as it was in Brokeback Mountain or Boys Don't Cry; but this is exactly what makes me love this movie. The basic premise of the story does not focus on the issue of homosexuality per se but
it includes homosexuality as an integral part of the main characters and using those characterization to build a funny and witty story about friendship and intimate relationship with people, regardless of their sexual orientations. For me, it's no longer a story about gay couple or gay lifestyle; it is a story about affection between people. While watching this movie, I can't help but smiling to see Son Woo's affection towards Ji Hyuk, despite the latter's continuous rejection or Ki Beom's dedication towards Son Woo, who becomes a mother figure for the rebellious teenager. It is also heartwarming to see Ji Hyuk start to open up to everybody in the bakery and share the burden of his dark past. The movie tells a very sweet story and I am a sucker for this kind of thing :)
Plus, they all are cute. Me like cuties. Nuff said.
