Taklamakan (2018)

Slow, non-linear story, but still engaging

Desert of No Return was a slow paced, non-linear (very non-linear) story about two people in dire financial straits who hooked up one night leading to tragedy. The film felt dragged out by bouncing back and forth in time and telling the story from both main characters' points of view. Soo Eun's story was far more compelling and Ha Yoon Kyung did a superb job bringing her to life.

Tae Shik is a divorced father who lives with his mother and can't make ends meet providing for both households. He collects junk from sellers and illegally from abandoned houses. His ex-wife takes every opportunity to denigrate him as well as people on the street. He goes with a friend to a karaoke bar where girls are provided for companionship. Soo Eun wants to own a nail salon but is short of the cash needed. She is in a loving relationship with a female musician and promised to never sleep with the clients during the "second round." Tae Shik and a reluctant Soo Eun end up in a hotel room which sets a terrible chain of events in motion.

Tae Shik was a man incapable of properly handling adversity or confrontation. If there was any effort to make him sympathetic it did not work with me. The more I discovered about him the less I empathized with him. All I learned from the film was that even ahjussis can be deadly dangerous if provoked or steal from you when your back is turned. Soo Eun made a choice she paid for in multiple ways. Though she worked to be a good human being she lost everything due to a desperate decision. The film bounced not only between the two characters' points of view but also back and forth in time which could be confusing.

Tae Shik's story tried to explain his rage which Jo Sung Ha portrayed well. Ha Yoon Kyung brought out Soo Eun's vulnerable side as well as her fierce side. She was beautiful whether made up or sans free of makeup and gave a lovely performance as the doomed young woman. The music was quietly moving though I disagree with her lover, even musicians have to pay their bills.

I didn't particularly enjoy the first part of the film but found myself engrossed in Soo Eun's romance and story. Many synopses made her out to be a prostitute. I don't think one time brands a woman for life. I felt the ending was unsatisfactory, but that could be because I do like my endings tied up with a bow one way or another. Had the rest of the film felt as complete as Soo Eun's story I would have enjoyed it more.

9/19/23

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