NYAFF 2010: ACTRESSES Review

[Our Thanks to Alexander Thebez for the review]

Je-yong Lee's ACTRESSES is a mockumentary that features six of Korea's best known actresses. In a faux Vogue photoshoot, six women, each representing their generation, mingle on a seemingly never-ending Christmas Eve.

ACTRESSES is an unconventional movie that blends elements from different genres.  The film explores the notion of fame and celebrity and the impact of both elements on female public figures.

Aesthetically, ACTRESSES is reminiscent of a documentary, as the film employs the familiar hand-held method of shooting. The fact that none of the characters are aware of the ever-present camera, however, creates a very different feel in the way we observe these characters. At times I had remind to myself that the characters that these women play are ultimately... characters.

The film is scripted, although it is evident that most of the dialogue is obviously improvised. The banter between the characters is what keeps the film going. Since nothing much actually happens plot wise. The film is really an observation of how these very unique celebrities interact within a very constrained environment. Je-yong Lee has taken the Mike Leigh approach in ACTRESSES. The film is a result of collaboration between the director and his actors. Lee simply provides the method and environment in which the actresses are allowed to explore, and investigate the meaning of celebrity, specifically in South Korea.

The film is divided into two very distinct parts. The first half of the film is a lot like a Korean melodrama. It's quirky and funny at times, but there is obviously a tension between the egos of the women at hand. These bigger than life personalities reveal their quirks and insecurities during the first half of ACTRESSES, also showing us how they cope with the pressure of constantly being in the spotlight.

Meanwhile, the latter part of the film is more of an open discussion on the ideas surrounding being a female celebrity in the Korean culture. The second half of the film takes place almost entirely around a dinner table. The actresses put aside their differences to discuss their experiences. This part was more interesting to me personally, simply because the actresses seem to reveal so much more from their conversations over the dinner table.

Ultimately, the film functions as a sort of tribute to some of South Korea's greatest actresses. The topic of celebrity and fame is a universal one but on some level, the conversations in the film really don't reveal anything new about our general understanding of the subject matter. So while a Western audience may enjoy the film, I think the more specific cultural references would simply go over their heads. In spite of this, the interactions between the actresses are more than enough, at least for me, to warrant a viewing. I can't help but grin throughout the entire movie while the film pumps warm feelings into me.

ACTRESSES is screening on July 3^rd (7:00 PM) and 5^th  (3:40 PM) at Lincoln Center as part of the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival, with director E J-yong present at all screenings!