Orange Country (1993)

Youth is the time of dreams and at the same time the time of loss. Between adults interference and expectations, the harsh reality and the blurry future, young people tend to try to find ways of escape. The film sheds light on some of the young people out there. It's 1993 so the refuge for those young people was nightclubs and its life.

The film focuses on young people's sense of loss. Through what nightlife involves -one night stands, gang rapes and so- the film tries to show that even the escape route for those youth is blocked. There's no way out. Again emphasising the theme -though preceding the release of the book- it's painful because it's youth.

Even when young people find true love in the mid of all the superficial and meaningless turmoil, their uncertainty, scars and fear snatch it away. The ending screams out, loss!

The music is unexpectedly nice for an old film, especially Kim Min Jong's OST.

Obviously I watched the film for Kim Min Jong. He was awesome with that mysterious halo his character implied, his long hair, deep voice and those big round eyes. If he looked at me the way he looked at the female lead I would have fainted.

The film contains harsh scenes to portray the raw issues. To present a dark -if my misanthropist self would talk it'd say realistic- view on youth, sugar coating and beautifying won't help. The film is a unique portrayal of a theme so long covered. Though the ending was expected if we'd read the writer's mind, I was still shocked. I wanted at least a ray of hope at the end.

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