A Man and A Woman (2016)

A simple film about love that’s both brought together through their personal life struggles and stopped because of that same struggle. Sang-Min is struggling with a loveless marriage in addition to having a son with mental deficiencies. Likewise, Ki-Hong has a suicidal, meantally unwell wife who he can’t fully connect with and a withdrawn, depressed daughter. This isolation circumstances brings them to Finland where they meet each other and have a very intimate encounter before parting ways. Both parties love each other but with both being married, it makes their relationship a wrong one. And in the end it comes to ahead where Ki-Hong can’t pursue his love through obligations to his family. It turned out to be futile love, eventually.

The symbolism in all the scenery, setting was heavy. But the heart of the story was in the acting. Gong Yoo’s performance brought all the intensity and vulnerability required. His character is a stuck soul that’s longing for love and intimacy. And he’s struggling to let it go, as shown through his persistence throughout the film, but eventually, regretfully. acquiescence to his situation, and lets Jeon Do-yeon’s go in a heartbreaking finish to the film. Jeon Do-yeon’s acting was so subtle and on-point, bringing everything she needed to the character and making the best out of the story on display.

A super well rounded movie that was both heart-warming and pitiful at the same time.

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A jewel to be discovered

As an unconditional fan of Gong Yoo, who is for me one of the best actors of today, I watched this film, first for him. Then because it has become a "classic" Korean film to see.

Well, I was not disappointed...

First of all, I would like to point out that this film should be seen as more than the subject it seems to deal with: Adultery.
This film is not for people who can't see beyond that.

Indeed, it is first of all a film about life, people, love and the choice of each one.

You have to see and understand each person's life to fully appreciate this emotional film. My heart sincerely fluttered and I really liked it.

What about the acting? As expected, Gong Yoo plays wonderfully, and still managed to touch me deeply. I lived and understood each of his choices whether they were happy or terrible.
But very nice surprise also from Jeon Do Yeon: Beautiful acting, her character has many facets, and she takes us away and touches us as much.

There are intimate scenes, which could be disturbing, but in fact they are completely in keeping with the film, and beautifully handled. Well done...

This film is strong, poignant and true. I loved it, and I highly recommend it.

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I saw this on Prime and it was hot. Gong Yoo is sizzling and so are the sexy scenes. Great chemistry between the two leads and the scenes between them were done tastefully. The story line was moving and the impact of what extramarital affairs can do between two people and their family is well told and portrayed. I detest cheating but I watched this because of the superb acting. I wish they'll just get out of an unhappy marriage instead of cheating. I also wish they'll find happiness somehow. Anyway, if you're just here to see great acting by the main leads, then go ahead and watch it.

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Something is Missing...

I really want to give it higher rating like the others did but...something is missing from my angle so I'm not sure why... It is indeed a heartfelt story about struggles in a marriage and dealing with a child's emotion... I liked the movie with steamy sex scenes and some nice romance but I did not like how it ended with him leaving her without giving her the proper closure... To find closure, she flew to Finland hoping to speak to him but then found him in a restaurant eating lunch with his beautiful family... The saddest part was that he ruined her marriage by making her believe that he would leave his wife and that he is capable of giving her greater happiness... She left her husband to pursue a life with him but he left quietly just like that!!

Is this what many of the viewers call "reality"? He was a coward in the end disappearing without facing her and telling her the truth... What did I get from this story? You just can't trust a man who is still married. Period.

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Não era amor

A Sangmin vivia apenas para o filho e encontrou um conforto nesse relacionamento com o Ki Hong, acho que teria sido melhor para os dois se tivesse acabado depois da sauna, eles não iriam se envolver tanto e não ia ser tão dolorido. A realidade é que os dois não se amavam, apenas se atraíram e se envolveram pois ambos estavam com seus casamentos em crise e ainda havia a questão dos filhos, o Ki Hong foi errado em não ter pelo menos conversado com ela antes de abandoná-la, afinal ele também deu esperanças a SangMin, pois ficava procurando ela a todo momento.

Em geral, a história é boa e eu recomendo o filme!

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Its not a movie about adultery, it's about heartbreak

Writting this review after having rewatched it 5x times in the last 4 months since i found it in February 2022
I am not going to rave about how the good storytelling, cinematography and how transfixing the performances of the main cast is because every other reviewer here has preety much done it already, instead what few people talk about is the serene musical soundtrack of this movie(here's the Spotify link to the playlist https://open.spotify.com/album/00v7WAA1m1c0FZQ7BZEQBhsi=hkalEWI6QfiHpC04qUnLjQ&utm_source=native-share-menu). For me besides acting, directing, the instrumental themes were the real star of the show, like they elevated the viewing experience of almost all sceans they were put in to level 💯, the music painstakingly makes it a point to hit the fact home - 'all that we've adored is only going to last a few fleeting moments and in the end if we do not learn to let it go peacefully it will becomes a poking thorn, a source of constant ache for our heart'

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