As
the Korean War rages, children really are amongst the hardest hit. Orphans like
Dong-goo and Soon-yi are forced to live a Dickensian existence, begging and
stealing on the streets of Busan for the Fagin-like “Hook,” (so known, because
he has one). However, they might find hope and belonging in a children’s choir
organized by South Korean Second Lieutenant Han Sang-yeol. Yet, the war and the
exploitative Hook remain as dangerous as ever in Lee Han’s A Melody to Remember (trailer here), which opens today
in Queens, New York.
Before
the war, Lt. Han was a music student who doted on his little sister. When the
Communists occupied their home, they showed the relatively well-to-do children
what class warfare really means. Han barely survived, but his sister sadly
died. In a year or so, Han matures into a steely junior officer, but his sister’s
death continues to haunt him.
Given
his education and the recommendation of an MP who once served in his platoon,
Han is appointed director of the orphanage on the Busan military base. It is
the passion project of ardent South Korean social worker Park Joo-mi. Initially,
the battle-hardened Han dismisses her as a dilettante, but they warm to each
other as he becomes emotionally involved with the kids. The circumstances of
Dong-goo and Soon-yi particularly resonate with him. The brother and sister
were orphaned after their father was killed in turn by another grieving father,
whose late son he ratted out to the North Koreans. Han would like to break the
cycle of violence they are mired in, but technically they are only “on loan” to
the choir from the super-connected Hook.
As
a “based on a true story” Korean historical drama, you know Melody will be really trying to open up
the tear ducts down the stretch. The combination of music, cute kids, and
wartime tragedy is certainly potent. Considering its elegiac nostalgia, it is
absolutely bizarre to find the film tangentially involved in a government
scandal. Allegedly, the chief Korean financial regulatory agency (FSC) was
strong-arming banks and insurance companies to buy bulk quantities of tickets,
because lead actor (and K-pop star) Siwan serves as their media spokesman. If
true, this has to be one of the most ill-conceived cases of government malfeasance
ever.
It
is actually rather a shame, because Siwan is surprisingly good as Lt. Han, but
he might not get the credit he deserves in light of the FSC’s meddling, at
least in Korea. Siwan also shows a strong affinity for his young co-stars and
develops some decent chemistry with Ko Ah-sung’s Park. Lee Hee-joon makes the
most of Hook’s ambiguities (he is not quite the jerk-heel villain we first
expect), but it is little Lee Re who truly rips out the viewer’s heart and
stomps on it, as poor grief and guilt-stricken Soon-yi.
