Set to a breezy pace and backed by a dainty soundtrack, “Rolling” is the kind of inoffensive film many can find enjoyment in. Aided by plenty of aesthetically pleasing scenes of food preparation and eating, Kwak Min-seung creates something which, although without an abundance of depth, is wholly enjoyable.
“Rolling” is screening at the London Korean Film Festival
The plot revolves around Juri (Shim Dal-gi), a 25-year-old college dropout who finds herself bored at home during the pandemic. Playing splatoon on her Nintendo Switch, drinking on the floor and generally being sluggish around a messy apartment, she is without socialisation, and in essence cut off from the wider world. That is until her mother (Jung Eun-kyung), comes to her with a demand. Due to the declining ill health of Juri's grandmother, she must cover for her and take temporary charge of the family Kimbap restaurant. As expected, it is not an entirely smoothly transition, but the adaptable youngest of the family soon finds herself enjoying the challenge, even if business appears to be anything but steadfast.
Even though it is entertaining, the main plot of “Rolling” is without much fanfare, focusing on the low-key challenges of an unexpected small business owner without experience. It offers the expected humour, such as when a bulk order is placed with less than 24 hour's notice, and when the audience is told that the regulars have complained about the new taste of the anchovy kimbap, but by and large, there is nothing overtly memorable going on. With that being said, there is something endearing about Min Kang-san's thinly-drawn narrative, and the easily accessible story undoubtedly makes for more relaxed viewing.
Moreover, the movie is not without layers. For one, there is the growth of the protagonist, who shifts from an infatuation with isolation to reinventing herself as a proactive woman ready to throw herself into the working world and help her mother. Similarly, she begins to find her confidence again through a romantic interest. They start out awkwardly, and although we are never explicitly told what becomes of the pairing, it is hardly inconceivable to believe that the two will remain fond of each other going forward.
Acting wise, everything is subtle, with Shim Dal-gi never favouring needlessly broad strokes with her performance. Instead, she lets understated expressions and sharp dialogue do the work, something which is noticeably impressive. In the same vein, thanks to the pacy flow of the release, there is never a chance for the actors to fall into any traps, with Kwak instead making sure that all aspects are structurally tight, and realistically performed.
Continuing, Kim Jin-hyeong does a respectable job with his cinematography, giving a vivid colour to the outdoor locations and numerous close-ups of the food, while just as effectively painting the restaurant as a homely, tight-knit place. Furthermore, Kwak Min-seung's precise editing gives everything an essence of calmness which eschews becoming dull, whilst Jung Jun-young's soundtrack further ensures that the tone of each scene is captured convincingly.
Overall, “Rolling” is a warm piece of cinema, one which never surges to any sort of climax, but something which can easily be watched with little to complain about.
