Güle-Güle

World Premiere

A goofy-sincere romcom with an indie edge, GÜLE-GÜLE follows two beautiful people, seemingly strangers, who can’t escape their incredibly annoying partners during a Korean group tour of historic Turkey. Jeong-wha is all but babysitting her perpetually drunk (ex?) husband, and Dae-sik has to humor his supervisor’s juvenile power games. Travel is supposed to be a respite from everyday life, but these two find themselves stuck with the parts of home they most want to escape.

Through mysterious caves, jealous street fights, and epic balloon rides, GÜLE-GÜLE traces two people whose youthful decisions sent them down lonely paths, now trying to find their way back. As the tour slowly and hilariously descends into romantic chaos, it’s kept afloat by the Turkish guide who is fluent in Korean. The film balances its delightful and cringey side characters with more multilayered performances by the stars. Played by Seo Ye-wha from the hit K-drama Queen of Tears and Lee Hee-jun, of the appropriately named film Handsome Guys, Jeong-wha and Dae-sik share an undeniable and disarming chemistry.

With its foreign tourists humiliating themselves in stunning locations, GÜLE-GÜLE shares some DNA with White Lotus. And its scenes of drunken revelations and identity confusions bring to mind other great Korean art films. But what GÜLE-GÜLE has that those do not is a goofy romantic streak straight out of the mushiest K-drama. As the music swells for a lost love rekindled, you’ll find yourself not wanting to say “goodbye.”

– Lev Kalman

Preceded By

Circle

Directed by Yumi Joung

A young girl draws a circle on the floor. One by one, people step inside and struggle to fit.