My man Jack informs me that No Regret, the groundbreaking, critically-acclaimed gay love story from South Korea, hits select theaters in New York and Los Angeles this Friday, July 25. Directed by controversial and openly gay filmmaker Leesong Hee-il, it's described as "a classic romance interwoven with the realistic depiction of class conflict and contemporary Korean gay life." Here's the official synopsis:
NO REGRET marks the first true gay film from Korea, centers on Sumin (Lee Young-Hoon), a poor 18 year-old orphan who seeks his fortune in the bright lights of Seoul. After losing a series of jobs, he is forced to work as a prostitute in a gay karaoke bar. A wealthy and powerful industrialist, Jaemin, (Lee Han) falls passionately in love with the boy and seduces him. Their relationship soon begins to interfere with Jaemin's pending nuptials and his promotion to a high-profile job at his father’s company. Vengeful after becoming ignored, Sumin sets off on a destructive course of action that brings the film to a powerful and emotional moment of truth. "No Regret" is as uplifting and bittersweet as it is compelling and surprising.I haven't had the chance to check it out, but I'm told by several people who have seen it that it's quite good. Without a doubt, something very different coming out of South Korea. It opens at the Sunset 5 in West Hollywood and the Cinema Village in New York, with more cities to follow. To learn more about the film, visit the website here.