“One-Minded” is the type of short which is not so much intriguing on palpable quality alone, but rather through a reasonably unique, thoughtful approach to its artistic direction. Centred around an omniscient, oscillating fan in a cramped Korean apartment which bares resemblance to one utilised in the third instalment of “Paranormal Activity”, Sébastien Simon and Forest Ian Etsler's bitesize effort enjoyed a sizeable run on the festival circuit, gaining praise for their seamlessly coordinated romantic comedy crime drama.
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Ambitiously, Simon and Etsler thread multiple narratives into their bitesize offering's plot. Told almost entirely from the perspective of the swaying fan, the viewer bears witness to a mini-heist, allusions of shower sex born out of a club hookup, and the premature return of a house owner from a failed business trip. Yet, there is so much more to “One-Minded”, such as the subtle commentary on the bliss of youthful exuberance, which can only be truly picked up from viewing the enthusiastically lofty production.
To its credit, despite clocking in at a modest twenty-minutes, “One-Minded” does a fantastic job of telling its story with fluidity, and developing its cast to an investable degree. Across the numerous back-and-forth pans, and occasional still, each member of the small ensemble is given a chance to breathe and flesh-out their own narrative. Whether it is the clumsy thieving duo, who happen to be unaware of what they are actually meant to be stealing in the first place, or the unnamed other side of a meaningless hookup (Ryu Jun-yeol), a man who wears tight, elaborately designed underwear in a bid to “improve sexual stamina,” the viewer is still allowed to catch a glimpse of what each character's intention is, even if it is simply to act out of benign youthful naivety.
Furthermore, despite an evident light-hearted tone and relatively breezy sequencing, the film does benefit from its shift towards a coming-of-age narrative during its apex. The unspoken lovers, Gertrude (Choi Hee-soo) and Alice (Erin Joo) are wholly engrossing as they discuss their grand plans for a life back in France; a new beginning which ditches work for an outgoing, jaunty lifestyle and allows them to live freely as themselves. Additionally, their enrapturing stare-off and poignant conversation is made all the more striking when one acknowledges their blatant disregard of the apartment ongoings in favour of a resolute focus on each other, and the meaning they bring to each other's life.
In allowing this evocatively emotional response in such a short release, credit must be given to the stellar young cast, all of whom pull their weight to competent degrees. Choi Hee-soo particularly shines as the free-spirited co-owner of the modest apartment, coming across as effortlessly excitable when the suggestion is put forward that she and her hookup shower together, but then strikingly passionate when she discusses just what Alice wishes to obtain from her life, armed with a powerful gaze and tempered flamboyance. Similarly, Ryu Jun-yeol excels in his supporting role as the nameless club beau, making audiences laugh with his bizarre sex preparations, far too tight underwear and complete apathy towards the ongoing robbery (it is not his house, after all), but also eliciting meaning from his times as the cast adrift man, stuck smoking on the street, wondering what the meaning behind the happenings throughout the night really are.
“One-Minded” is technically impressive too, benefiting from smart editing from the co-directors, as well as sharp framing from cinematographer Choi Nam-yong. Thus, whilst there is not anything overwhelmingly robust about the film's composition, everything shifts along nicely, and there is no wasted space in the tangibly cramped Korean apartment, making the short feel smart and astute, rather than in over its own head.
In conclusion, “One-Minded” is a well-acted, shrewdly executed short film which packs a worthwhile punch when operating as both a light-hearted comedy, and fleetingly as a coming-of-age drama. So, whilst it his highly unlikely to float around in one's mind long-term, it is a brisk watch which comes dually recommended as an interesting change-of-pace from the reefs of mainstream cinema.
