A small city on the outskirts of Seoul. Young Seok, a university student nearing graduation, comes across a woman in the street who has fallen from her wheelchair and helps her back home. She ends up feeding him a simple meal, and he develops a vague curiosity for this woman who introduces herself as "Josée". From this time on, Young Seok occasionally stops by Josée's house, receiving free meals and getting to know this woman who reads a lot, has a comprehensive knowledge of whiskey and tells him stories which he's not sure are true. Gradually, they come to share an unforgettable love. (Source: KoBiz) ~~ Adapted from the short story "Josee, the Tiger and the Fish" (ジョゼと虎と魚たち) by Tanabe Seiko (田辺聖子). Edit Translation
- English
- 한국어
- Русский
- Deutsch
- Native Title: 조제
- Also Known As: Josee, the Tiger and the Fish , Joje , Josée
- Screenwriter & Director: Kim Jong Kwan
- Screenwriter: Watanabe Aya
- Genres: Romance, Life, Drama
Cast & Credits
- Han Ji MinJoseeMain Role
- Nam Joo HyukLee Young SeokMain Role
- Heo JinPark Da BokSupport Role
- Park Ye JinHye SeonSupport Role
- Jo Bok RaeChul HoSupport Role
- Lee So HeeSoo KyungSupport Role
Reviews
100% Recommend
Josee, I can say, is a really calm movie. The movie is focusing on how Josee who 'trapped' in her house finally met Young-Seok and then experiencing something new in her life. I can feel how the two characters who came from totally different backgrounds finally in love with each other.The movie cinematography was also amazing. My favorite one is when they were in Scotland, it was so pleasing to the eye.
The main characters in this movie, Josee and Young-Seok are played by two talented actors, Han Ji-Min and Nam Joo-Hyuk. They portrayed Josee and Young-Seok really well. No doubt for their acting skills. I loooove how they can bring the characters alive. Especially Young-Seok, he didn't cry much in this movie but I can already feel what he's going through. Well done, Nam Joo-Hyuk.
Must watch. You really don't wanna missed it.
Two people who make pit stops, in this journey called life, right next to each other.
Josée is a mysterious, pretty woman who is helped up onto her wheelchair by an engineering student, Lee Young-seok. She offers him free meals every time he goes by their house and he helps her out, closing the distance between them little by little.The movie is shot mostly from a third person's perspective thus lessening the probability of forming a real connection with the characters. Much like we're looking into their lives through the hole in the wall that Josée uses to look outside.
To be perfectly honest, I expected there to be waterworks because this pairing brought us one of the most heartbreaking dramas, Light in your eyes. But I gradually came to realise that this movie isn't supposed to make you cry. It is meant to bring you to tears, to leave them dangling for their lives right at the waterline. It needs you to think which then brings in this feeling of knowing, of understanding the characters and why they did what they did and why they brought in conflict when it didn't seem necessary. We don't really see how the characters feel but rather how they express it. The movie captures you not because of the characters individually but how they interact in a closed space. The feeling is so surreal and something I have never experienced before.
There are just a handful of characters and it is extremely aesthetic. While it seems like a vague and open ending to most, I really saw finality in it. There is great beauty in Josée and her white lies. A great beauty in their little world. A world built on loneliness and helplessness but one that blossomed into independence.
Do I recommend this movie? Yes but only in a specific kind of mood. Like I said it won't give you a good cry, you are just left sitting and staring at the void as the credits roll in and a beautiful song plays. However, it gives you an immense sense of empathy, of understanding without hearing. So, if you're in the mood for a slow-burning, introspective movie filled with beautiful cinematography and exceptionally acting especially from Nam Joo-hyuk, then yes.
I give Josée an 9/10.
(PS: I see so much of kind-hearted Nam Do-san in Young-seok. These two were also engineers, so it made me smile, all nostalgic. And Han Ji-min is just wow, but I don't think I've to say that specifically.)