Kim Ji Young Film Review, Born 1982 - Conflict And How It Feels To Be Harassed

Kim Ji Young illustration, Born 1982 (Lotte Entertainment)

JAKARTA - Kim Ji Young, Born 1982 officially aired in Indonesia starting on November 20 yesterday. The film adapted from the book of the same name has been released to the public since Jung Yu Mi and Gong Yoo confirmed their appearance in this film.

Kim Ji Young, Born 1982 tells the story of Kim Ji Young (Jung Yu Mi) who lives the life of a housewife. He always does a repetitive routine, starting from preparing breakfast, taking care of children, to cleaning the house. Even though he did his best, Ji Young still received negative reactions from his family including his in-laws. This makes Ji Young feel exhausted and begins to experience something that changes her mentally.

The tough task of the adaptation process is how to make the big screen version as interesting as a book. The process of translating stories into films is also a challenge. However, from the very beginning, Kim Ji Young, Born 1982 did not try to side with anyone and thus discredited the opposing party. Instead, this film tries to describe what happened in the real world ... or in South Korea.

The conflict that occurred in Kim Ji Young, Born 1982 is a reality for all of us. Experiencing discrimination, harassment, or rejection is part of Ji Young's journey. His role as child, wife and mother deserves thumbs up. Because since the beginning of the story, this film does not have a patronizing impression.

Kim Ji Young, Born 1982 also dared to describe the symptoms of depression that sufferers often do not realize. The trigger for depression is sometimes the people closest to us, this is often shown when Ji Young is dealing with the people closest to him. There are flashback transition spices to complement the existing story conflicts so as to add to the impression of a depressive film tone.

Don't doubt Gong Yoo and Jung Yu Mi's chemistry which has awakened perfectly. This is the third project they have played together after Silenced (2011) and Train to Busan (2016). High appreciation also needs to be given to director Kim Do Young in directing the story into a warm yet poignant presentation. The dialogue made by Kim Do Young, Yoo Yeong Ah, and Cho Nam Ju also makes this film stronger in storytelling.

Kim Ji Young, Born 1982 is both a reflection and a big question for us. Have we treated people around us well? Or do we have a big influence behind someone's downfall? Certainly, in this film Kim Ji Young really becomes a 'superhero' for all of us.

Feminism and Controversy

Since 2018, the #MeToo movement that has grown overseas has also reached South Korea. Many women took to the streets to show their rejection of victims who accepted the discrimination, harassment, which is more common among women. The patriarchal life that has thickened in South Korea has made people a little blind about feminism.

Recently, the community has been stirred up by cases of stalking by men and women who return home at night. Apart from that, there are also spycam cases where hidden cameras are placed in private spaces such as women's restrooms. This case is only a small part of the scope of cases that occur in the entertainment industry sector and outside.

Kim Ji Young's book, Born 1982 also caused controversy and negative reactions from anti-feminist circles in the country when it was first released. Irene, a member of the K-pop group Red Velvet, was bombarded with bad comments through the Red Velvet group's social media account after a meet and greet session admitted to reading this book. That statement made fans burn merchandise related to Irene.

Actress and singer Suzy also received negative comments when uploading a poster for Kim Ji Young's film, Born 1982 on her Instagram account. Suzy is an agency junior with Gong Yoo and Jung Yu Mi in the Soop Entertainment agency. As a form of support from a junior to his seniors, Suzy wrote, "This is our story" in the caption of the poster. However, not a few people commented on the upload with negative words.

Just like Irene and Suzy, since news circulated that a film adaptation of this book would be made, Jung Yu Mi's personal Instagram was filled with negative comments because she had confirmed and promised the best performance for Kim Ji Young, Born 1982.

Despite receiving negative things, Kim Ji Young, Born 1982, which aired since October 23, still scored box office numbers in its home country. As of early November, the film has drawn three million viewers and will continue to grow.