About This Film
Using comedy to comment on society and themes like family is not exactly an easy task, since the balance between commentary and entertainment is rather difficult to retain. However, Shin Sang-ok accomplishes just that with an easiness that is emblematic of his value as a filmmaker (let's not get into the controversy of his history again).
Synopsis
The rather unusual, stage-play style and also surrealistic initial sequence allows the characters to introduce themselves to the audience, starting with Romantic Papa himself, whose five children call him like that due to his mellow and sentimental nature, but also because they frequently treat him as if he was senile, although in a loving manner. The style of the movie, which is soon revealed as a rather large collection of episodes revolving around the family members and their acquaintances, begins here, with the number of characters introduced being extravagant, at least to the eye of someone who cannot distinguish the actors. The various episodes start immediately after, with each one making a comment about the then Korean society, while a kind of light drama (not in context, but in approach) takes over the last part of the movie, as we watch Romantic Papa coming in terms with his age and corporate reality.
