Come Rain, Come Shine (사랑한다, 사랑하지 않는다) Summary/Movie Review

                                             

Come Rain, Come Shine is a movie which shows how silence can be powerful enough to make things such as relationships falter. The story revolves around a married couple who are about to spend their last day together. The woman has already declared to her husband her plan to move out of their house and leave him for another man. All throughout the film, mystery can be felt -from the setting itself, up to the minds or thoughts of the man and woman. How does the woman feel towards her husband and her decision of leaving him? How does the man feel knowing her wife’s infidelity and how will he be able to handle the situation? While the two main characters are confined in a huge, dark house, and while they are forced to stay inside because of the heavy rain, it is obvious how emptiness fills them both. The woman packs her own belongings, while the man offers help in packing those things. There are minimal dialogues during these scenes. But through the characters’ actions and expressions, it is apparent that they are both struggling with their feelings. The woman shows a bit of hesitation in going on with her decision. While the man shows a facade of acceptance with the whole situation.

The movie advances the emotions further when unexpected visitors (a cat, and another married couple) and a phone call came into the picture. The cat who entered and accidentally got lost inside their house was able to stir up the woman and the man’s concern for each other. The man got hurt because of the cat, and the woman shows how worried she is by immediately attending to his wounded husband. On the other hand, their other visitors were able to disrupt the “might be” beginning of hope for their relationship. These visitors were originally just looking for their cat, but they became carefree with their surrounding. The visitors opened the TV by themselves and they even asked favor from the couple when they gave up looking for the cat. Aside form the visitors, they also received a phone call from the “other” man. The woman’s husband answered the call. The man passes the phone to her wife without even showing a trace of dismay. During the short stay of the visitors and the phone conversation with the “other”, the woman noticed how passive her husband can be. It seemed as if the woman thought her decision was right, and that her husband is also at fault for the falling apart of their marriage. Although the man did not give any reaction about the phone call, it was shown in the latter part that he is actually affected to the point that he is unable to lift his defenses anymore. In the end, both of them are still incapable to tell each other how they really feel. Silence and the sound of rain took over as the fate of their marriage remains unknown. 

A peaceful break-up, and yet more heartbreaking than the usual. This slow-paced, quiet, and minimalist film may not be an entertaining one and more fit to be made as a short film rather than full length, but still, the premise remains strong. Also, the film’s unique style of showing tension and emotions being held back should be recognized.

*사랑한다, 사랑하지 않는다 (Saranghanda, Saranghaji Anhneunda) literally means “I love you, I don’t love you.”