FAQ is a new sci-fi fantasy movie from South Korea with a coming-of-age story. The ending is surprising and very efficient. Screened for Fantasia 2024. Read our full FAQ movie review here!
FAQ is a South Korean movie screening at Fantasia 2024. This is both atypical of movies from South Korea, yet has the trademark South Korean character-driven story. This time, the main character is a young girl still in elementary school.
In case you didn’t know, there is a huge pressure on kids in school in South Korea. They are in school, attending various extra classes, or doing homework for most of their waking hours. This movie uses a sci-fi fantasy plot to help explain why.
Continue reading our FAQ movie review below.
Rice wine speaking via Morse Code
The plot of FAQ sounds weird, but the actual story told in this movie makes perfect sense as it evolves. We meet a sweet girl, who is spending her days as a stressed-out elementary-school student.
One day, she comes across a bottle of rice wine and secretly befriends it. Yes, she becomes friends with rice wine and it communicates with her.
It ends up being a friendship that teaches her a lot. First, because it communicates via Morse Code. Second, because it’s speaking Persian. The young girl goes through many languages using Google Translate before finally discovering this.
Fortunately, her mother recently enrolled her in a class where she learns Persian, so it all comes together.
In the all-important lead role of the young Dong-chun, we see the very young lead actor Park Na-eun. She brings a sense of wonder and amazement to her character and the result is mesmerizing.
FAQ screening at Fantasia 2024
This is the debut feature film of director Kim Da-min. I loved that anyone could sit down and watch this movie and get something out of it. Sure, it’s a genre film, but in a way that feels very organic and universal. People loving dramas should enjoy this as well.
The ending is very much a sci-fi fantasy ending, but it also brings together all the elements of this story. And the pressure on young students in South Korea.
I had no idea what to expect from FAQ based on the plot description of a girl communicating with rice wine. However, I’m very happy to say that it was a sweet and pleasant surprise. One that also has a dark edge, but is mostly about hope and imagination.
FAQ is currently screening af Fantasia 2024.
Details
Director: Kim Da-min
Writer: Kim Da-min
Cast: Kim Hie-won, Park Hyo-joo, Park Na-eun
Plot
A stressed-out elementary-school student secretly befriends a bottle of rice wine that can communicate through Morse Code. A heartwarming sci-fi/coming-of-age story guaranteed to make you smile.
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