“April Snow” is a Korean romantic drama which gained critical recognition worldwide, as it was nominated for the Gold Hugo at the Chicago International Film Festival, and for the Golden Seashell at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. The movie grossed approximately $2.5 million in South Korea, and was a box office success in China, Japan, and the Philippines.
The narrative revolves around the relationship between two characters. In-su (Bae Yong-jun) and Seo-young (Son Ye-jin) encounter each other in a hospital following a car accident involving their spouses, who were both in the same vehicle. Gradually, it becomes apparent that they were having an affair. The main characters reside in the same hotel close to the hospital to attend to their unconscious spouses. At first, they seem to avoid each other, but after a while they start to bond over their shared sorrow, frustration, and anxiety. Over time, their connection deepens, and they find themselves developing feelings for one another.
Hur Jin-ho portrays the story in a subtle and intimate manner. The film focuses on the two main characters and their emotions in a very sensitive way. There are few dialogues, but thanks to the skillful use of silence and visuals, the director manages to convey the essence of the narrative efficiently. The viewer can feel the pain experienced by In-su and Seo-young throughout the whole movie, especially in the scene where they attend the funeral of a person who died because of their spouses' irresponsible actions of driving under the influence. Since the police investigation has not yet determined which of the lovers was driving the car, both In-su and Seo-young have a “social obligation” to attend the funeral. This situation further intensifies the feeling of uncertainty weighing on the characters.
Since the story focuses on the two characters, the acting and character portrayal are particularly important. Son Ye-jin, whose popularity significantly contributed to the film's success, delivers an excellent performance. For this role, she won the Best Actress award at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival. Similarly, Bae Yong-jun, although not awarded, delivers a noteworthy performance.
The cinematography by Lee Mo-gae is fairly standard. There are no special effects or elaborate camera techniques, but the framing and composition effectively capture the emotional intimacy of the characters' interactions. The biggest drawback of the film is definitely the music, which crudely dictates the emotions that the viewer should feel in a given scene. In such a calm and quiet picture, it would have been better if the music were more subdued and subtle.
The transition from betrayed spouses to lovers seeking solace in each other in “April Snow” feels a little rushed. The story could undoubtedly use more running time than 105 minutes, during which the director could take care of the development of characters – moving from their despair and confusion to affection for each other. Flaws aside, it is a quite poignant exploration of love, loss, and resilience that might leave a lasting impression on viewers with its heartfelt storytelling, good performances, and poetic ending.
