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K-Drama Flashback: ‘Late Autumn’

It is a moving story that explores the unexpected romance between two strangers who meet at an odd intersection on their way to Seattle

Dec 16, 2022

Photo: Courtesy of HanCinema

I’ve seen a multitude of romantic Korean movies, yet Late Autumn is one that never ceases to amaze me when I watch it again and again. Late Autumn is a profoundly moving story that explores the unexpected romance between two strangers, Anna and Hoon, who meet at an odd intersection on their way to Seattle. The movie has received high praise from critics and numerous accolades. It is the fourth remake of Manhee’s timeless melodrama of the same name. The 2010 film was produced jointly by South Korea, China, and the United States.

Popular Chinese actress Tang Wei plays Anna, and South Korean superstar Hyun Bin plays Hoon, a gigolo on the run from a mighty businessman’s fury for having an affair with his wife. On the other hand, Anna is a prisoner accused of killing her abusive husband. She receives word of her mother’s passing one day and is given bail, allowing her to be free for 72 hours so she can travel to Seattle to visit her family and participate in the funeral. What transpires after these two guys meet by chance on a bus is quite fascinating.

Late Autumn is, in my opinion, Kim Tae-yong’s directorial masterpiece. It’s not your typical Korean romance, but rather a rapture of emotions deep within two souls pining for love. Both Hoon and Anna have hard times, and Hoon appears to yearn for love. He appears to be roughed up on the inside. Survival has always been challenging for Anna. Her marriage was disastrous; she was forced to kill her vicious husband, resulting in her imprisonment. After seven years of servitude, when she is granted three days of parole for the cause of her mother’s death, she attempts to feel a renewed sense of happiness (despite knowing it is fleeting). Hoon, willingly, and Anna, reluctantly at first but eventually with close consent, make the most of their limited time and enjoy once-in-a-lifetime moments.

Anna’s inner turmoil is comprehensible based on her behavior as she attempts to reintegrate into society after being released from prison. She is hesitant, poker-faced, and repeatedly unsure of her mannerisms. Hoon, on the other hand, is the polar opposite and promptly starts flirting with Anna. Nonetheless, there’s something special about him. He is spontaneous, and so are his advances, but they are never forced. Anna is evasive, torn between the harsh realities of her life and her own need for fulfillment.

Photo: Courtesy of HanCinema
Photo: Courtesy of HanCinema

If you’ve seen the movie, you already know, but if not, here’s a modest suggestion: don’t anticipate a fairytale ending. This is an account of loving and being loved while realizing there is no forever. Anna and Hoon’s journey is brief but meaningful. There is very little verbal interaction and discourse. However, there are occasions when silence is more effective than words. As a result, whatever little they exchange has a significant impact. The two lonely individuals cross paths, fall in love, spend some time together, reveal their truths, and then part ways. Just consider the excruciating pain the protagonists—who are deeply in love—must be experiencing when they bid adieu.

Late Autumn is handled brilliantly by director Kim in terms of cinematography, particularly when it comes to the tone he establishes that fits the atmospheric nuances of late autumn in Seattle. There is hardly a warm tint, but the desaturated color scheme perfectly complements the narrative’s overall melancholy vibe. Characters are brought to life by Hyun Bin and Tang Wei’s extraordinary acting skills. Hoon, the stunningly desirable dapper gent with piercing eyes (who is always looking for Anna in between spells of their brief encounters), steals her heart. Anna’s appearance, though deglamorized, is absolutely gorgeous; her eyes exude sadness, highlighting her loneliness. The two spend three days together, sharing secrets, falling in love, and then sealing the moment with a belated kiss before parting ways.

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