Bank of Seoul (2019)

This was an interesting short film about an office worker who discovers the Sleep Bank in his dreams. Frustrated, exhausted, overworked and spending most of his days and nights at the office he takes out a sleep loan. What could possibly go wrong?

Bank of Seoul touches on the long hours salary men put into their jobs and how their lives, bodies, minds, and families suffer because of it. With the gift of not needing sleep and with the help of the Korean version of Red Bull he works around the clock to succeed and gain the promotion that had always seemed out of his grasp. Of course, the genie never gives a gift for free--what happens when the bill is due?

Most of the story centers directly on Seong Jae, played by Park Hee Soon. He gives a quiet performance of a man pushed to the edge of desperation and obsession.

The film is dark, both in mood and cinematography. Most of the shots are at night or under the cold glare of fluorescent bulbs.

Forty minutes was just about the right amount of time to tell Seong Jae's story as he and other sleep debtors strove to succeed and survive in a never ending night.

Read More