Il Mare (2000)

"Il Mare" gently sprays its quiet magic as if through an atomizer.

"Il Mare" is the ´international´ title of this KMovie. However, the original title (rather being translated as "Across Time") does not refer to the place - a picturesque house by the sea - but to what actually happens there: a time-transcending correspondence. Strictly speaking, the letters are sent back and forth in a mailbox over the distance of 2 years. What an unprecendeted plot for a love story to be told in a truly unique way! This story became famous in America and Europe in the 2006 US film adaptation starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock.

Actually you shouldn't compare the two movies side by side, but most people do, so...
The South Korean original was made in 2000 and starred Lee Jung-jae, who was in high demand in South Korea at the time, and Jun Ji-hyun, who was just beginning her career. (Actually you can sense the difference in her acting back then and in her more recent productions. In the meantime she definitely has matured from a ´mere´ beauty into a spirited actress.) While the original shares the same plot as does the US remake later on, the South Korean version places more emphasis on the mood of the protagonists, stressed by using imagery, color and atmosphere. Accordingly, the South Korean original is characterized by less color saturation and less light than the US remake, as both protagonists - Eun-ju and Sung-hyun - are rather disappointed in life, taciturn, withdrawn. The loneliness and emptiness in the protagonists´ lifes is one aspect. The remote house by the sea something completely different. It might perfectly fit into the protagonists´ mood, but in addition it actually has quite some magic to offer: Besides framing and emphasizing the beauty of nature there is the dog as a harbinger of relationship and the mailbox as a bridge between hearts. Thus the overall sensitively told story slowly but surely fills with joy, smiles, laughter and increasingly radiating light.

The KMovie "Il Mare" gently sprays its quiet magic as if through an atomizer.

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Il Mare is a truly unique love story, that shows romance in a refreshingly different light. Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Jung-jae are good playing two lonely people who find comfort in words shared with a stranger, but there was honestly nothing extraordinary about either performance. The true star of this movie is the story itself.

The plot takes the idea of long distance romance to the extreme. It's written so well that the fantastic concept seems perfectly plausible. I loved how their shared moments were shown. The director did a great job of making sure the time difference never felt like a cheap gimmick. The movie is also visually stunning, especially the house itself ("il mare") which I absolutely loved. This movie is not fast paced, nor does it have cute moments full of chemistry/sexual tension. Instead, it's about watching two people become close although they can't be together. Showing that connection is hard, but I think the movie pulls it off well.

The American remake of this film is "The Lake House" staring Keanu Reeves, & Sandra Bullock. I actually liked the remake as well, but one doesn't cancel the other out in my opinion. At the very least, the korean house is MUCH cooler!

I think the key to this story's appeal is the question of whether or not they will ever meet in the future, and have a true romantic relationship. Once that mystery was resolved, rewatching was a little less exciting, but It is still very interesting to watch the story unfold while knowing the outcome. If possible, avoid reading the synopsis, which gives way too much of the story away. I also wouldn't be concerned with how old this movie is. Like the relationship between Eun Ju & Sung Hyun, this movie is timeless.

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Il Mare is a title I've been putting off for a really long time. It was one of the many Korean movies that fans of dramas had recommended. Plus, as soon as I found out that The Lake House (an American movie) was a remake of this one it sealed the deal. The problem was despite how much I loved the US version of it, the story is slow. Both movies are about 1 hr and 30 odd minutes. However, the way the story is told it goes by slow. This is a first time that I actually prefer the US remake over an original. But not by much.

Il Mare is not a romantic comedy. In fact, I don't think I cracked a smile the whole movie. No parts were humorous--though I'm sure some might laugh at one or two of them. Which is probably what contributes to why the movie feels slow. The movie feels monotone. Monochromatic. Mono . . . well you get it. It's got one speed and feeling throughout the whole thing. (The US version had many flavors and is probably the only reason I like it just a tad more.)

This is a classic romantic film. It's sweet, and the time travel aspect is handled beautifully. Some might find it strange that the time travel is never really figured out, or that the characters don't truly question it. Probably that wonderment and belief is what makes these two such wonderful characters, and why they're love can happen.

In the end I think Il Mare is a one of a kind love story. Time travel romances have always been one of my favorites, and Il Mare's story easily stands on its own. Keep in mind you're going to want to watch this when you have patience. This is for a cold winter, or rainy, night that you're just planning to have a glass of wine and stay warm on the inside and out.

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Warning: this wasn't a bad movie, but this review may sound cynical because it was hyped up to more than I thought it should be, and I'm tired and don't want to type anything.

Story (7.0):
Okay, first off, a great premise and idea behind this story. I've seen some complain about a slow start, but I actually liked that pacing and thought the whole setup was pretty well done.
How can I say this in as few words as possible... well, the whole thing felt paced like the setup. I know the action and "drama" increased but it felt like someone was reading a book in monotone. As the story progressed, I didn't really dislike anything that was happening, but when that ending hit, I was like, what are you doing. No. That's what you wanted to do? And then I thought back on the rest of the story and was like let's rewind way back here and start making a whole new storyline.
Honestly, the end was more boring than the beginning.

Acting/Cast (7.5):
I think my only issue with the actors in this is not that they did a lackluster job portraying what they were supposed to, but that what they were supposed to portray was fairly lackluster. Jun Ji Hyun is one of my favorite actresses in general but I think my favorite cast in this movie was the dog. He was really good at sleeping like a human. Honorable mention to the drowning fish.

Music (6.0):
Rockabye, don't you cry, go to sleeeep little viewer...

Rewatch Value (6.0):
I kind of want to rewatch it so I can better glue together some plot points I was figuring out in a first watch, but the idea honestly bores me and I'd much rather try watching the American remake.

Overall (6.5):
I don't think it was worth staying up late on a work night. It was a great premise and not a terrible execution, but it lacked any spark. It's not (well, not completely) because there's little to no actual meet and greet chemistry between the two, but the whole thing just felt muted and it had a very flat ending in my opinion. There was a climax and build to resolution and it just didn't fizz. This movie could have used some more carbonation.

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Am I still a stranger to you?

Sentimental movie about lonely people? Also about writing letter and have architect theme too??? This movie is a package deal made for me!

The plot is great! Even tho at the end you had a rollercoaster ride but we'll pass it. I forget how great Korean's cinema is for the past few years cause they are not like it used to be. Maybe I'm just born at a wrong time cause hell yes film on the 90's and early 2000's are worth to die for. And this one, this is an iconic one. Played by Jun Ji Hun and Lee Jae Hyuk, it's like the blue print of nowadays K-drama. I can't say it's an original story but it's indeed different with a twist and need to sit on the same table with You've Got a Mail (1998) and Haru (1996).

The colour scheme also is something that i enjoy paying attention to!

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This is the original story that the remake the Lake House came from. I watched because I heard that it was the original, I loved it. The Lake House I only liked, but, this story excluded everything I disliked about the Lake House and gave us a new twist to the story. Also, if you were a fan of Man from the stars, you might want to watch this one. ( Jun Jihyun is the main actress in both.) Also, this story has less plot holes than the Lake House and is more believable to say the least, not to mention more romantic in the kdrama way. This is one of the best Korean movies I have ever seen. They need to make more this way.

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Slow, beautiful film

The concept was original, the cinematography was wonderful, the acting was stellar, the music was haunting. I remember seeing the American remake (The Lake House), but I could never forget that they were actors in a movie, because they were famous. This was completely different.

Though I've seen both of the main actors in other works, I was completely immersed in this story. Let's start with the locations, the architecture, the cinematography. The film was full of shades of blue, fog, mist, and water, all that gave the strong feeling of calm, quiet, and mystery. The house on the lake, I think anyone would want to live there. The house, far from everyone and everything, gave the feeling of loneliness, and to a certain, degree, depression. The character of Kim Eun Ju (Jun Ji Hyun) was just full of loneliness. She'd been unsuccessful in love, wasn't doing too well in moving on, and if I'm honest, a little irritating in that she wanted to hold on to her putz of a husband. Han Sung Hyun (Lee Jung Jae) gave off the vibe of a real loner. Someone told him early on that he needed to learn how to open his heart. He seemed perfectly content in his solitary life, yet something was missing.

The two communicate across time, and Sung Hyun even addressed the improbability in that Cola, the cutest dog ever, was in two places at once. We get to know these two better through their correspondence and I really hoped there would be a happy ending for them.

The haunting song, Must Say Goodbye, was played throughout this movie, sometimes instrumental, sometimes with words. It was beautiful and went perfectly with the movie.

I would probably not rewatch this movie, since I know what happens, but I would definitely recommend it. A warning, this is a slow movie. Not much happens, but in a world that seems to be moving at warp speed, it was nice to sit back and enjoy the slow ride.

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Love is mind and heart

Loved it
The story is interesting and the pace is necessary.
Of course we can't try to understand the parallel universe or the future and past entwined...
I wish the end could be a little different, in the way he doesn't go to meet her.


It reminds me Krzysztof Kieślowski la double vie de Veronique. In the pace and love and the gap between time and places...
Never saw the American remake and don't feel any curiosity. It is for certain worse, as most of the American remakes... This is not fast food. This is something cooked for long and long time ...
If you like a love story and if you UNDERSTAND LOVE you should watch it.
The heart beats faster with the excitement and passion but it calms down and relax when a person is in love. Because love is slow...

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One my Top 10 movies since 2000

I have seen many movies, but Il Mare is the only movie that even after 20 years, I still remember which cinema, that it was a very hot day (in fact I decided to watch the movie on a whim, after a friend cancelled on me and being a hot day, I thought chilling in the cinema is a good idea), and how I felt when the movie ended-- omg, I have unexpectedly watched a masterpiece! Back in 2000, Korean movies and dramas were not "a thing" yet, it was almost 2 years before the Korean wave. And as I had not seen a Korean film at that time, I really wasn't expecting a lot when I bought the movie ticket.

I was a movie buff back then, had watched a few arthouse films in foreign languages. But Il Mare was the first movie that I watched that focus completely on the viewer experience (I had thought movies are about storytelling), to convey that feelings of loneliness and desire for companionship using imaginary and music. Because really, plot? script? acting? These usually important key factors are negligent in Il Mare!! The synopsis says: sci-fi time-travelling romance, forget that! I get the feeling the time-travelling plot was written in to support the director's desire to create a movie that represents the loneliness, desires and wishes of single people. This is a movie that is completely about cinematograhy and music. So if you are the type that needs a good story or realism, you will not like Il Mare. This movie is an art piece whose purpose is to invoke feelings of loneliness, of love and desire. Plot and logic? The scriptwriter couldn't care less...

It must have been 1 of the easiest movies for the 2 leads..... simple script with simple dialogues. FL was very new to acting and her fresh face helps the role; ML was already a seasoned actor, so all that was required for him is let his charisma show. It was also a smart move to set the story in December-- end of the year, Christmas lights, 1 woman standing under a barren tree.... this might be seen as cliché, but in Il Mare, it is an additional stroke to the masterpiece.

It has been 20 years, and I had lost the soundtrack CD that I bought after the movie. But the theme song, the tune, the lyrics "we must say goodbye~" is always there at a corner of my mind, ready to pull out whenever I feel like reminiscing on the movie.

ps: I rated re-watch value at 9.0 because if you do not have a big screen with good surround sound, the movie is not worth watching...

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Although I see that most of the feedback on here is positive, I just can't help but disagree.

I first saw the trailer and I completely fell in love with it, and it was on my PTW list for much longer than it should have. I obsessed over watching it ages but I just couldn't find the time.
I am saddened to have to admit that I was VERY disappointed after actually watching it.

1) SLOOOOOOOOW start- I can usually get over this if the rest of the movie makes up for it, but in this case I can't say it did...

2) Plot- OKAY. The plot (or at least the main idea of it) was quite original and pure. I really, really loved it, but I don't think it lived up to its potential... The movie lacked something. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something was missing; it just seemed incomplete.

3) Acting- It was great and I can't complain. Loved everyone.

4) Ending- SO, SO, SO, SO disappointing. Sometimes the ending can make up for the rest, but YET AGAIN, it failed to do so.

Overall thoughts; I liked the movie for its originality and emotion but I feel that it lacked action and depth. The idea was there, but it wasn't presented in a successful manner.

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