''Cafe Noir'' () is a 2009 South Korean romance

melodrama film A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically concentrate on dialogue that is often bombastic or exces ...

starring Shin Ha-kyun,

Moon Jeong-hee Moon Jeong-hee (born January 12, 1976) is a South Korean stage, film, and television actress. She has won Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in '' Deranged'' (2012) and Best Supporting Actress award in Buil F ...

, Kim Hye-na and Jung Yu-mi. Written and directed by first-time director

Jung Sung-il Jung Sung-il (October 21, 1969) is a South Korean retired competitive figure skater. He is the 1991 Winter Universiade silver medalist. He placed as high as sixth at the World Junior Championships (1988) and 14th at the World Championships ...

, a well regarded film critic-turned-director, it is a contemplation on love and heartbreak largely based on two works of literature -

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as t ...

's ''

The Sorrows of Young Werther ''The Sorrows of Young Werther'' (; german: Die Leiden des jungen Werthers) is a 1774 epistolary novel by Johann Wolfgang Goethe, which appeared as a revised edition in 1787. It was one of the main novels in the '' Sturm und Drang'' period in Ge ...

'' and

Fyodor Dostoyevsky Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (, ; rus, Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский, Fyódor Mikháylovich Dostoyévskiy, p=ˈfʲɵdər mʲɪˈxajləvʲɪdʑ dəstɐˈjefskʲɪj, a=ru-Dostoevsky.ogg, links=yes; 11 November 18219 ...

White Nights White night, White Night, or White Nights may refer to: * White night (astronomy), a night in which it never gets completely dark, at high latitudes outside the Arctic and Antarctic Circles * White Night festivals, all-night arts festivals held ...

. The critically acclaimed work debuted at the

66th Venice Film Festival The 66th annual Venice International Film Festival, held in Venice, Italy, was held from 2 to 12 September 2009, with Maria Grazia Cucinotta serving as the festival's hostess. The opening film of the festival was '' Baarìa'' by Giuseppe Tornat ...

in 2009, and Jung was nominated for New Talent Grand Pix at the 2010 Copenhagen International Film Festival.

Synopsis

Young-soo ( Shin Ha-kyun), a music teacher, has an affair with his student's mother, Mi-yeon (

). He becomes desperate when Mi-yeon decides to end their relationship following the return of her husband ( Lee Sung-min). He tries to kill the husband and when it fails, he realizes that for the happiness of the woman he loves, he must leave her. Later, Young-soo meets a young woman Sun-hwa ( Jung Yu-mi) by chance, who is waiting for her lover (

Kim Sang-kyung Kim Sang-kyung (born June 1, 1972; ) is a South Korean actor. He is known for his leading roles in '' Memories of Murder'' (2003) and ''May 18'' (2007). Two of his films directed by Hong Sang-soo, '' Tale of Cinema'' (2005) and '' Ha Ha Ha'' ( ...

) on the bridge for a year. He begins to see her every day and falls for her. Just when she decides to give up thinking that her lover does not love her anymore, he suddenly appears on the bridge. They leave together happily, leaving Young-soo behind.

Cast

* Shin Ha-kyun as Young-soo *

as Mi-yeon 1 * Kim Hye-na as Mi-yeon 2 * Jung Yu-mi as Sun-hwa * Lee Sung-min as Mi-yeon 1's husband *

as Sun-hwa's lover * Yozoh as Shim Eun-ha * Lee Yong-nyeo as Young-soo's mother / Fortuneteller auntie *

Yoon Hee-seok Yoon Hee-seok (born February 19, 1975) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Music video Theater Awards and nominations References External links * * * Yoon Hee-seok Fan Cafeat Daum * * * 1975 bir ...

as Man smoking at Seoul Land

Festivals

''Cafe Noir'' was screened for a full year at various events of the festival circuit before it was given a domestic release in late December 2010. The DVD was finally released in June 2012. *Venice International Film Festival (2009) - International Critic's Week *Venice International Film Critics' Week (2009) *Busan International Film Festival (2009) - Korean Cinema Today - Panorama *Copenhagen International Film Festival (2010) - New Talent Grand Pix *LA Film Fest (2010) - International Showcase *T-Mobile New Horizons International Film Festival (2010) - Panorama *Munich International Film Festival (2010) - Focus on the Far East *Hong Kong International Film Festival (2010) - Indie Power *International Film Festival Rotterdam (2010) - Bright Future

Reception

''Cafe Noir'' received positive reviews.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cafe Noir 2009 films 2000s Korean-language films South Korean romantic drama films Films directed by Jung Sung-il 2000s South Korean films