“Green Night” is the second full-length film by Shuai Han. It had its premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Teddy Award and the Panorama Audience Award. It was also screened at the 11th Asian Film Festival in Barcelona, where it won the Panorama Section Award for Best Screenplay. Her debut, “Summer Blur”, also gained recognition at festivals, winning the Grand Prix in the Generation Kplus competition section at the Berlinale in 2021 and the FIPRESCI Award in the New Currents section at the Busan International Film Festival in 2020, among others.
Green Night screened at Singapore International Film Festival
The film tells the story of Jin Xia (Fan Bingbing), a Chinese woman working as a border guard at the airport in Seoul, who is trapped in an abusive marriage with a Korean man (Kim Yeong-ho). On the spur of the moment, she embarks on an exciting adventure with a peculiar green-haired girl (Lee Joo-young), seizing the opportunity to become independent. The chance encounter of the two heroines at the airport initially results in a purely financial agreement, but over time, it evolves into something more.
The director chooses to address topics, such as economic migration, domestic violence, gender inequality, and non-heteronormative relationships. Both heroines emphasize their desire to be independent of men – one from her husband and the other from her boyfriend/employer. They perceive their “significant others” as the source of all evil and are determined to break free from their oppression. The film is very straightforward, and unfortunately, it tends to oversimplify the themes it addresses. The most glaring issue is the identification of all wrongdoing with male characters.
On the other hand, the tense and ambiguous relationship between the heroines and the screenplay are the strongest elements of the picture. If viewers are willing to suspend disbelief a little, especially at the beginning of the screening, they are in for a gripping thriller where the tension compensates, at least partially, for some shortcomings.
As the entire dynamic of the narrative revolves around the captivating contrast between the two main characters, the performances of both actresses constitute the driving force of the film. Fan Bingbing skilfully portrays a character who is withdrawn, insecure, and hesitant, whereas Lee Joo-young embodies a woman characterized by arrogance and reckless determination. The performances of these two talented actresses significantly contribute to the depth and emotional impact of the story, which keeps the audience engaged.
The remarkable visual aesthetics of this neo-noir drama were skilfully created by the two directors of photography, Matthias Delvaux and Kim Hyun-seok. They proficiently use elements such as darkness, vibrant neon lights, and dynamic handheld camera movements to create an atmosphere full of uncertainty and tension. The only thing lacking is a more expressive soundtrack that would complement the tone of this picture.
Despite “Green Night” being a movie full of colorful neon lights, its message is surprisingly black and white. It doesn't address socially significant topics in a sufficiently engaging way to be considered a profound social commentary. Instead, it leans more towards action cinema, with important questions about immigration and women's issues somewhat in the background.
