Ha Jung-woo's latest satirical comedy 'The People Upstairs' makes no attempt to conceal its provocative subject matter. An early appearance of wine labeled 'Foursome' serves as both a clear hint and fair warning to audiences about the film's bold direction. Despite its explicit premise, the movie maintains a playful and entertaining tone through sharp writing, witty dialogue, and outstanding performances that prevent the material from becoming uncomfortable.
The story centers on Jung-ah, played by Kong Hyo-jin, and Hyun-soo, portrayed by Kim Dong-wook, a young married couple who have grown emotionally distant from each other. They communicate primarily through text messages even when in the same beautifully decorated home, occupying separate spaces in what should be their shared life. While they constantly argue and maintain emotional distance, one thing unites them: the persistent sounds of intimate activity from the apartment above that disrupts their sleep every night.
Jung-ah, who secretly admires their upstairs neighbor Soo-kyung, a renowned psychiatrist played by Lee Ha-nee, decides to invite her and her husband Mr. Kim, portrayed by Ha Jung-woo himself, for dinner. Officially, the invitation serves as an apology for the construction noise from Jung-ah and Hyun-soo's recent renovations. However, Jung-ah's true motivation stems from curiosity about the couple's private life, which she secretly envies. Hyun-soo, already at his breaking point due to the nightly disturbances, warns Jung-ah that if the dinner he never agreed to doesn't conclude within an hour, he will unleash his frustration.
The four characters navigate their first meeting with a volatile mixture of excitement, tension, and curiosity about potential developments. They exchange casual conversation over dinner and wine, with the evening initially proceeding smoothly. However, when the upstairs couple begins openly discussing their intimate life in a nonchalant manner, Jung-ah and Hyun-soo's deeply buried marital issues begin surfacing dramatically.
This marks Ha Jung-woo's fourth directorial project and represents a Korean adaptation of the critically acclaimed 2020 Spanish comedy 'Sentimental,' which shares the same English title. The adapted film features a rich narrative filled with impactful, thought-provoking yet humorous dialogue that maintains energy throughout and prevents the stagnation that might typically affect single-location films shot primarily within one apartment over a single evening.
The film's mise-en-scene bursts with vibrant colors and showcases Ha's distinctive artistic touch through his own paintings, as the director is also an established visual artist. Adding to the movie's unique character, it divides into five distinct sections, each introduced with original artwork created by Ha himself. This artistic framework provides structure while highlighting the director's multifaceted creative talents.
While essential to the narrative, the upstairs couple appears deliberately exaggerated and caricature-like, serving to spotlight the more realistic and relatable struggles of Jung-ah and Hyun-soo. Their primary issues involve avoiding confrontation and failing to communicate effectively about their relationship problems. The film succeeds brilliantly by taking viewers on a single-evening journey where, beneath the provocative setup, lies the couple's deeply buried problems that both Jung-ah and Hyun-soo, along with many audience members, find themselves finally compelled to confront.
Critics consider 'The People Upstairs' arguably Ha Jung-woo's strongest directorial effort to date. The film premiered at the 30th Busan International Film Festival in September and was subsequently screened at the 10th London East Asia Film Festival in November. The movie is scheduled for local theatrical release on Wednesday, bringing this bold exploration of modern relationships to Korean audiences.
