Film Review Number One: The Story of the Choi Woo Shik Family who is Less Focused

JAKARTA - What if you are given a countdown to spend time with your family? The Korean family-themed film is finally back. The film Number One from director Kim Tae Yong and starring actor Choi Woo Shik can be watched in Indonesian cinemas.

This film marks Choi Woo Shik's reunion with the director after the film Set Me Free (2014). Although different in theme, their collaboration invites curiosity, especially fans of family films. Check out VOI's review of the film Number One below.

Number One tells the story of Ha Min (Choi Woo Shik), a child who sees numbers whenever he eats his mother's homemade food. Ha Min believes that the number is the rest of his mother's life so Ha Min tries not to eat his mother's homemade food, Eun Sil (Jang Hye Jin).

This incident began to be felt since their family was left behind by his brother. In order to avoid this, Ha Min slowly stopped eating his mother's cooking and found a way to stay away.

The mother was sad because of Ha Min's attitude of not wanting to eat, plus he now lives alone. He realized that Ha Min did not like his food since high school.

On the other hand, Ha Min and his lover, Ryo Eun (Gong Seung Yeon) start to arrange their lives together until one day Ha Min receives news about himself.

In terms of premise, this family film has the potential to be a tearjerker thanks to the turbulent interaction between mother and child. However, the director is reluctant to approach that side and wants the story to be the main dish for the audience.

There is nothing heavy about Ha Min's journey, unfortunately the main story and its side plot do not go hand in hand. Throughout the film, the story only focuses on Ha Min avoiding numbers and his mother's cooking, but there is no deepening of it.

Ha Min keeps being made to avoid and is surprised to see the number without thinking about how he should avoid the number. As a result, in some parts, the scene feels boring, especially since the origin of the number does not appear to be explained.

The acting department also shows good ability. Choi Woo Shik and Jang Hye Jin who got a big portion to process various emotions also managed to bring their side well (maybe because the two of them have acted together before).

This film cannot be called good because of its story which tends to be flat and leaves a 'floating' impression, but for entertainment - this film can fulfill that side.

The film Number One can be watched in Indonesian cinemas starting Wednesday, March 11.