[Review] 'Bi-gwang', a hand of cards scattered ambiguously

*This content was translated by AI.

A meager hand of cards ultimately failed to shine. With neither the warmth of a family drama, nor the tension of a mystery, nor the thrill of noir fully realized, 'Bi-gwang' is a film that offers little room for immersion.

'Bi-gwang' (directed by Lee Ji-won) begins with the story of Jung-gu, a top star of Korean baseball, and Nam-mi, an all-time legendary actress.

Living as glamorous top-star couple under the spotlight, the two are suddenly brought to ruin when Jung-gu's daughter, Dong-ju, unexpectedly appears. Unable to turn their backs on Dong-ju, Jung-gu and Nam-mi, whose lives were wounded simply by the child's existence, eventually go their separate ways.

Eight years later, the death of a middle school girl in Urimcheon occurs, and Dong-ju is identified as a prime suspect. Desperate to save Dong-ju from the brink, Jung-gu and his family cling on with all their might, while Nam-mi learns that the dark entanglement from eight years ago that brought them down has continued into the present.

Eight years after 'Miss Back', which told the story of a woman who shut her heart off to the world and an abused child saving each other within a family, director Lee Ji-won returns with 'Bi-gwang', once again placing "family" at the center of the narrative.

The message of family solidarity and sacrifice in trying to protect one another during a crisis is relatively clear. The problem lies in the process of reaching that message and the coherence of the narrative structure.

As the story unfolds between past and present, cracks and crises within the family unfold one after another, yet sufficient causal accumulation between events and emotions does not occur. Repeated moments where it becomes difficult to understand why characters act as they do make it hard to deeply immerse oneself in their emotions.

Although "family" is at the center of this film, it is not a typical human drama. The movie picks up full speed once the mystery surrounding the middle school girl's death emerges. While noir elements are added in this process, the genre combination fails to generate new synergy. As family drama, mystery, and noir become entangled, none of the genres' charms are fully pushed forward, causing the film's center to waver.

The acting skills of the cast, including Ryu Seung-ryong and Ha Ji-won, are impeccable. However, within a story that repeats familiar clichés, there is little room for the actors to show new faces different from their previous roles. Their stable performances compensate for weaknesses in the narrative but do not lead to freshness in the work itself.

The most impressive moment occurs when Ryu Seung-ryong, Gimhae Suk, Kim Sun-young, and Kim Young-min gather together. In their lively dialogue and natural banter as a family bound by kinship, the actors' chemistry and true abilities are clearly revealed. Their vitality amidst a series of heavy events breathes life into the film.

'Bi-gwang' has played too many cards. As the narrative that embraces multiple genres fails to interlock organically in the end, it leaves considerable ups and downs before the desperate emotions toward family can be fully conveyed to the audience.

Released on September 2. Running time: 109 minutes. Rated for ages 15 and over.

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*This content was translated by AI.