Friday, June 3, 22:10 Cinematheque 1
Tickets are available at 03-6060800 ext. 9
or click on English menu and select the date at the Cinematheque web site
Spa Night
Director: Andrew Ahn
Cast: Joe Seo, Haerry Kim
U.S., 2016, 93 min., English and Korean w/ Hebrew subtitles
Sundance 2016 – Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Performance
David, a young, naïve man, has just graduated from college and is hoping to pursue further studies. Born into a traditional, Christian family of Korean descent living in a Los Angeles immigrant neighborhood, he works at his parents' failing restaurant, which they are ultimately forced to shut down. While his mother finds employment as a waitress at a successful rival restaurant, his father takes to drink. To assist his parents, David takes a job in a traditional Korean spa. To his amazement, the spa is transformed at night time, with the clientele changing entirely. Drawn to this new world he has stumbled across, David begins exploring his sexuality.
In his film debut, director and scriptwriter Andrew Ahn brings to the screen a cinematic aesthetic that is rarely found in contemporary American cinema. The spa scenes, in particular, are reminiscent of the atmosphere created by Tsai Ming-Liang in his exemplary I Don't Want to Sleep Alone.
Leading actor Joe Seo is wonderful in the role of David, creating a restrained character that gradually becomes torn between sexual awakening and his strict Christian upbringing.