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'Singles’ shows changing rules in dating
By Joon Soh
July 10, 2003
The new domestic film "Singles" shares its title with an American film from a 
decade earlier directed by Cameron Crowe. Like its predecessor, which showed
the lives of young couples in Seattle during the grunge era, the new film is a
funny and poignant glimpse into the romances and careers of the young and
(happily?) unmarried in 21st century Seoul.
At the center of the film is the friendship of two spunky independent women in
their late 20s: Na-nan (Jang Jin-young), a cute, somewhat goofy fashion
designer, and Dong-mi (Um Jung-hwa), a bold company woman who is open about her
sexual needs.
Both end up quitting their jobs over unfair treatment by their sexist bosses,
and with the support of Jong-jun (Lee Bum-su), a good-natured male friend who
is also the roommate of Dong-mi, find themselves having to start over both
socially and professionally.
While the film is mostly lighthearted and fun, in keeping with the youthful
cast, "Singles" does an admirable job making the characters’ choices and
actions feel real. When Na-nan finds herself straying from her original career
path and ends up as a manager of a restaurant, or when Dong-mi decides to go
completely independent and tries to start her own business, these situations
feel less like plot devices than real-life decisions many of us may face in our
own lives.
The film is dialogue-driven, filled with casual and playful banters between the
friends, which include such earth-shattering topics as losing one’s hair,
woman’s sexuality and shopping. The talks are clever and have an honesty that
feels quite fresh. Particularly engaging is the funny bare-bones talk between
Na-nan and Dong-mi about the pros and cons of a loveless marriage.
At times, director Kwon Chol-in tries to juggle too many stories at once and
the film temporarily loses its narrative way. But the fine acting by the cast,
which also includes Kim Ju-hyuk as the sweet, bumbling bachelor who courts
Na-nan, keeps the film moving even when the plot doesn’t seem to be.
Without feeling overly derivative, "Singles" seems to borrow heavily from past
twenty-something movies, like "Reality Bites" and, to a much less degree, "St.
Elmo’s Fire." Another obvious influence is "Sex and the City," the HBO series
about single life in New York that is popular here.
How much such portrayals of young adults’ lives is fantasy and how much is
reality is always subject to debate. And while it will be interesting to see
how "Singles" will play with older generations, the light and enjoyable quality
of the film should win over most adults, regardless of age.
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