(Movie Review) Aimless and clueless, 'x-rated' film a bore

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- One should always be suspicious about a movie that
describes itself as "triple x-rated." Since the summer, "Searching for the
Elephant (Penthouse Elephant)" has been boasting that it will be the sexiest
movie of the year. After about 10 minutes, you'll realize you've been had.
The story is pretty simple.
Three male friends -- a freelance photographer, a plastic surgeon and a financier
-- spend their nights surrounded by women and alcohol, all of them hollow inside
despite their success and wealth.
Obsessed with his ex-girlfriend, photographer Hyeon-wu (Jang Hyuk) struggles with
schizophrenia and insomnia. The happily married Min-seok (Jo Dong-hyuk) has
endless affairs with patients thirsty for superficial beauty. Jin-hyeok (Lee
Sang-woo) is having an affair with his best friend's wife and holds other secrets
he refuses to share with his buddies.
While trying to overcome their problems, the three find solace in each other's
company. But even their friendship begins to stumble as dirty secrets are slowly
revealed.
With all the right ingredients for a so-called "generation movie" aimed at
Seoul's affluent thirty-something urban professionals, "???Elephant" appears lost
in how to serve up a proper dish.
It's near impossible to associate with the characters' seemingly endless anxiety
and greed, while the film's gratuitous sex scenes are anything but sexy as they
fail to blend in with the plot.
Director Jeong Seung-ku, who worked on the production of the local box office hit
"The Chaser," says he wanted to create a "bold and sensual movie by featuring the
depression, decadence and desire of Korea's most affluent generation."
Frankly speaking, Jeong's debut appears to have failed pitifully in that attempt,
with only small glimpses of potential in the movie's camerawork and soundtrack.
One major draw that could attract local moviegoers, however, is the fact that
"???Elephant" features the last performance by the late actress Jang Ja-yeon, who
committed suicide in March.
Playing the role of Hye-mi, a girlfriend of the libertine high-flying plastic
surgeon, Jang's character also commits suicide in the film. There is, in many
ways, a tragic resemblance between Jang and her final on-screen persona.
The movie's producer Vintage Holdings delayed release of the film and made new
edits out of respect for the late actress and her family, but said most sex and
suicide scenes involving Jang have not been deleted due to their importance to
the story.
Jang, 30, killed herself on March 7, making headlines for months as she left a
lengthy note claiming she was under immense emotional distress after being forced
to perform sexual favors for powerful entertainment figures.
Despite its flaws, the movie's attempt to capture the plight of affluent young
Seoulites has won it invitations from several international film fests including
Poland's Warsaw International Film Festival and Sweden's Stockholm International
Film Festival.
"???Elephant" will hit local theaters beginning Nov. 5.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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