Jeon Seung-pyo was born in Seoul in 1991. He graduated from Yonsei University with a major in Sociology and specialized in Film Directing at the Korea National University of Arts. He directed four short films and “Helpless” is his debut feature film.
“Helpless” is screening at Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
Geun-seong is a rather failed salesman of medical devices, who aspires, though, to become a YouTube sensation, although he is not particularly successful in that regard either. During a school club reunion, he meets a former classmate, Jong-man, who has actually managed to become a celebrity through YouTube, by adopting a hermaphrodite persona with pink hair that seems to be quite popular. In his drunken stupor, Geun-seong proposes a collaboration, hoping to leverage Jong-man's fame to boost his own broadcast. However, he is completely turned down, and even more drunk, returns to his apartment and records a video stating that Jong-man was bullying him at school, and without realizing it, the next day he has already become viral, and money starts falling his way. Furthermore, a girl who used to be Jong-man's mistress also approaches him and eventually suggests they become a duo, as she also wants to expose her former lover for his behavior. Their success becomes bigger and bigger, but soon a number of secrets come to the fore, while Jong-nam and his crew also have a proposal for him.
Jeon Seung-pyo directs a movie whose main and evident goal is to make a number of comments regarding how the whole (web) celebrity concept works. That the audience thirsts for scandals of celebrities becomes evident from the beginning, but Jeon also comments on how easy it is to manipulate the truth on the web, and how easily careers can be ruined (and made) by any type of accusations. This last aspect essentially turns towards society, with the way people are even willing to pay money for these types of videos, while asking the most ridiculous things from the YouTubers at the same time, highlighting a despicability that is essentially encouraged by anonymity. That the camera, essentially a medium that was invented to portray the truth, is used for any kind of libel and lies also moves in the same direction. Also of note is that the celebrities and the people surrounding them essentially function as a gang, particularly in the way they try to protect the star, adding even more to the contextual depth. Lastly, a comment on how the sales industry works, both in the office and outside, concludes the remarks (accusations if you prefer) in the movie.
Also of interest is that Jeon's characters, all of them practically, are losers and not particularly likable in any way, in a concept that is both pragmatist and somewhat pessimistic, additionally because their desperate efforts to change their lives hit the wall of their personality. Even Jong-man, who has somewhat made it, does not differ particularly in that regard, in an approach, though, that somewhat detracts from the interest of the movie, since feeling empathy for any of them is essentially impossible. In that fashion, Heo Ji-won's desperation as Geun-seong, Nam Yeon-woo's flamboyant despicability as Jong-man, and the manipulation of Go Won-hee as the ex-girlfriend, are well portrayed, but without any particular impact.
Furthermore, the story seems to move in paths that are somewhat illogical and far-fetched, with Jeon milking some of his concepts, to the point that the movie becomes a bit tedious after a point, in combination with the aforementioned element. The low-budget aesthetics do not help either, although Ji Seung-woo's cinematography does include some interesting frames, as in the ones in the toilets and the restaurant one. Jo Hyun-joo and Jeon's own editing results in a relatively fast pace that fits the overall aesthetics of the movie, while at 86 minutes, the title does not overextend its welcome significantly.
“Helpless” makes some interesting comments that are also entertaining in the way they are presented, but in general, the movie overall lacks impact, and even though its issues are not condemning, in the end it ends up a title that people will see and then easily forget.
