A Welcome Title, The Film Adaptation of the Novel 'Pavane for a Dead Princess'
As soon as I saw the title of the new Netflix movie Pavane, a certain book naturally crossed my mind. It is author Park Min-gyu's novel Pavane for a Dead Princess, which left a deep lingering impression on many readers in the late 2000s. It's a memory from so long ago that I can't even pinpoint exactly when I read it, but the shock delivered by its unique sensibility and narrative still remains in my mind. The fact that this masterpiece novel has finally been adapted into a film and come to us is more than enough to bring both great joy and a strange excitement to fans who remember the original work.
Change in Era: From the Nostalgia of the 80s and 90s to the Modern Day with Smartphones
One of the biggest differences between the original novel and the movie is the setting of the era. The original novel faintly depicted the outskirts of Seoul in the transition from the 1980s to the 90s, a time when capitalism and lookism began to run rampant. On the other hand, although this movie Pavane does not specify an exact year, the sight of characters naturally using smartphones indicates that the setting has been shifted to at least the 2010s or later. This chronological adaptation might feel a bit unfamiliar to those who expected analog nostalgia, but it seems to be the director's realistic choice to express the realistic wounds and solitude of the youth living in the present.
The Unconventional Setting of an 'Ugly Woman' and Go Ah-sung's Mi-jung
Anyone who has read the novel Pavane for a Dead Princess strongly remembers one specific setting: the female protagonist is described as the "ugliest woman in the world." In the movie, this unconventional setting is visualized through the character "Kim Mi-jung," played by actress Go Ah-sung. Rather than directly recreating the extreme physical descriptions from the novel, the film focuses on the psychology of a character trying to hide and defend herself from the world's gaze with an unadorned, plain bare face and somewhat shabby clothing. Mi-jung's appearance of living with a closed heart to avoid people's uncomfortable stares clearly shows a bitter cross-section of modern society where the ideology of physical appearance has become even darker.
Shift in Perspective: From a First-Person Memoir to a Third-Person Observer's Gaze
The perspective from which the story is told also underwent a major change during the film adaptation process. The core of the original novel's narrative was a first-person perspective where the protagonist calmly monologues while personally reminiscing about past loves and wounds. However, the movie chose a method of shining a three-dimensional light on three characters, including "Park Yo-han" played by Byun Yo-han, from a third-party perspective. Thanks to this shift in perspective, without being buried in just one person's emotions, we are able to observe from an objective and broad viewpoint how three wounded youths intertwine and form relationships with each other.
The Masterpiece 'Las Meninas' and Pavane, A Short Appearance Leaving Regret
Personally, one of the great gifts the original novel gave me was introducing me to the slow dance music 'Pavane' and Diego Velázquez's masterpiece Las Meninas. The ugly maid in the right corner of this painting, which also appears on the novel's cover, is a massive metaphor that pierces through the entire work. Looking up the philosophical interpretations contained in the painting was a rewarding benefit in itself. However, in the movie, the meaning of this painting and Pavane is consumed too briefly, just passing by, leaving a deep sense of regret for fans of the original. As they are symbols containing the identity of the work, it leaves me wondering how it would have been if they had been directed with a bit more depth by utilizing the advantages of visual media.
From Theaters to Netflix, The Unavoidable Opening Logos
Pavane was originally produced aiming for a theatrical release but ultimately chose to go straight to Netflix. Usually, when watching Korean movies in theaters, I often feel fatigue looking at the endless opening logos of production and investment companies. While recent Netflix originals like The Man Who Lives with the King or Humint provided a thrill by starting the main feature immediately without any superfluity, Pavane left a slight disappointment by showing numerous logos from the beginning, perhaps due to its inherent limitation of originally being made for theaters.
The Department Store Basement, Relationships Blooming in an Isolated Space
The main stage of the movie is the darkest and most isolated space of the most glamorous department store: the basement. For Mi-jung, who is a regular employee but is pushed around by people's stares and rumors, failing to adapt and wandering through various departments before finally being exiled to the basement warehouse, this space where she doesn't have to mix with others is rather a sanctuary. However, as Yo-han and Kyung-rok join this gloomy space, gentle ripples begin to form in Mi-jung's quiet daily life. The process of three youths, pushed out of the mainstream of society, recognizing each other's deficiencies and comforting one another in the lowest space unfolds interestingly.
Discovery of a Best Scene: Kyung-rok's Smile and Skateboard Breaking the Lethargy
Sometimes when watching a movie, apart from the overall entertainment value of the work, there is a magical moment where you fall in love with the film because of just one scene. In Pavane, the conversation scene between Lee Kyung-rok, played by Moon Sang-min, and Yo-han in the early part of the play was exactly that. Kyung-rok, who was working lethargically and expressionlessly, suddenly approaches Yo-han with a unique smile and playfully asks for his skateboard, saying, "Aren't we friends?" The atmosphere instantly changes, and the sight of Kyung-rok running coolly and joyfully through the underground parking lot instantly refreshes the sunken mood of the play and explodes the vitality of youth. This single lively sequence alone made the movie worth watching.
The Freshness of Love at First Sight, and the Cautious Emotional Lines of Melodrama
The movie focuses a little more on the melodrama and love of the three youths rather than the deep, philosophical introspection of the original work. Kyung-rok, who falls in love at first sight after seeing Mi-jung working silently in the dark basement, tries to be straightforward but approaches her cautiously, worried she might get hurt by the bad rumors within the department store. Meanwhile, Yo-han also tries to carefully look after Mi-jung from her side, protecting the relationship between the two. The moment when Mi-jung, who at first tried to somewhat reject the goodwill, finally opens her heart and sincerely confesses her feelings to Yo-han, is touching. The light of positivity that lingered on Mi-jung's face after that shows the power of love blooming even in a harsh reality.
Yo-han's Memorable Lines, and an Ending Leaving a Question Mark
The lines flowing from Byun Yo-han's mouth in the second half of the movie are quite impressive. Yo-han's lines, such as "The reason breakups hurt is that the sense of being alive you had while dating is shattered," and "Love is a misunderstanding, but it doesn't last long," leave a bitter yet long lingering effect. Meanwhile, the appearance of Lee Yi-dam in the role of Se-ra, who recently appeared in three consecutive Netflix works and earned the modifier of a new "Netflix civil servant," also stood out. However, reaching the final ending part that wraps up the narrative leaves a deep sense of regret and a question mark, making one wonder, "Did it really have to develop that way?"
The Rediscovery of Actors Making Us Look Forward to Their Dazzling Flight
Judging by overall standards, it might be difficult to assert that Pavane is a massively entertaining movie for the general public. However, the ensemble created by the three actors—Go Ah-sung, Byun Yo-han, and Moon Sang-min—was flawlessly excellent. In particular, Moon Sang-min, who charmingly crafted the character of Kyung-rok, radiating a clumsy but sincere energy starting from his bright smile while skateboarding, is a great harvest. Just by confirming the growth of this reliable actor who is highly anticipated in the future, Pavane will be remembered as a youth melodrama that provides warm comfort.
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