Yeong-eun (played by Song Hye-kyo) is a hopefully aloof designer in her thirties. Normally the phrase would be hopelessly aloof, but Yeong-eun defies expectations through her desire not to get seriously involved with men- despite her innate sensuality. While on a business trip to France, the hotbed for worldwide fashion, Yeong-eun met photographer Jae-gook (played by Jang Ki-yong), a handsome and highly in-demand photographer. Upon encountering once again, Yeong-eun and Jae-gook make an elaborate effort to pretend not to recognize each other.
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“Now, We Are Breaking Up” has a baffling tone- although I’m fairly certain it’s an intentional one. Everything about the story is structured like a romance. Yet Yeong-eun and Jae-gook are so focused on their jobs and, more relevantly, the standoffish attitude that makes them so desirable professionally, that romance just doesn’t seem plausible. Yeong-eun is indifferent to her obvious mutual attraction with Jae-gook because she simply doesn’t see the point.
A reasonably convincing is presented for why Yeong-eun might be right. We see various misadventures involving Yeong-eun’s co-worker Chi-sook (played by Choi Hee-seo), who does allow herself to become entangled romantically, and suffers from it. Yeong-eun and Chi-sook are both older women. Most of the men they meet are younger than they are, and almost by definition immature because models and freelancers aren’t exactly known for having stable lifestyles.
Consequentally there’s a very philosophical bent toward “Now, We Are Breaking Up” because Yeong-eun acts as if any romantic relationship at all requires a much more persuasive pitch than any she’s seen so far. And given just how dreamy Jang Ki-yong is in the leading role, her standards seem unreasonably high. Yeong-eun as a character is someone who needs to be accepted as she is. Yeong-eun just can’t be bothered to extend more energy than that.
This isn’t just true in Yeong-eun’s personal life, but also in her professional life in the fashion industry. So in that sense “Now, We Are Breaking Up” requires a fair amount of investment in Yeong-eun’s career goals. The story isn’t boring by any means, but it feels as if “Now, We Are Breaking Up” is a very Song Hye-kyo specific project, in that it’s the first project Song Hye-kyo has done since her highly publicized divorce from Song Joong-ki some three years ago. The whole narrative almost feels like a metaphor for that tabloid narrative. Why should Song Hye-kyo act at all, if she finds less romantic work more personally fulfilling?
Review by William Schwartz
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“Now, We Are Breaking Up” is directed by Lee Gil-bok, written by Je In, and features Song Hye-kyo, Jang Ki-yong, Choi Hee-seo, Kim Joo-hun, Park Hyo-joo, Yoon Na-moo. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2021/11/12~Now airing, Fri, Sat 22:00 on SBS.
William Schwartz
Staff writer. Has been writing articles for HanCinema since 2012, having lived in South Korea since 2011. Started out in Gyeongju, then to Daegu, then to Ansan, then to Yeongju, then to Seoul, lived on the road for HanCinema’s travel diaries series in the summer of 2016, and is currently settled in Anyang. Has good tips for utilizing South Korea’s public bus system. William Schwartz can be contacted via william@hancinema.net. He also has a substack at williamschwartz.substack.com where he discusses the South Korean film industry in broader terms and takes suggestions for future movies to review.
[HanCinema’s Drama Review] “Now, We Are Breaking Up” Episode 1 (2021/11/12)
Source: Laban Lang Philippines
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