36

[Movie Review] I Can Speak tells the story of a woman finding her voice

Last year’s I Can Speak, from director Kim Hyun-seok (C’est Si Bon, Cyrano Agency) and starring Na Mun-hee and Lee Je-hoon, is a comedy-drama that takes its viewers on an unexpected but moving journey. Lee plays Min-jae, a disaffected but diligent lower-level civil servant newly transferred to the ward office where Na’s character Ok-boon files multiple civil complaints a day, to the staff’s endless exasperation. When the newbie takes her seriously instead of hand-waving her concerns like everyone else, she zeroes in on him as her new target.

Thus begins a hilarious all-out siege of paperwork and stakeouts, until Min-jae accepts the obvious fact that he’s no match for Ok-boon’s stubbornness and reluctantly agrees to teach her English. As their lessons progress, there’s a lot of delightful bonding between the no-nonsense Min-jae and the cantankerous but generous-hearted Ok-boon; she even manages to bring him closer to his semi-estranged high-school-aged brother, who is his only family in the world. The first half of the movie is mostly about lonely souls in the awkward and funny beginning stages of friendship—possibly even a new family unit.

That lighthearted tone shifts about halfway through, once we find out why Ok-boon actually wants to learn English. The revelation transforms what seems at first to be a heartwarming comedy about found family into a deeply affecting drama about trauma and healing and finding one’s voice. Still, I didn’t find the shift in tone jarring the way I sometimes do with Korean films that advertise a rom-com and give me a cancer melodrama (I’m looking at you, Fighting Spirit. Also, don’t worry, this is not a cancer melodrama). Because despite the humor of the first hour, the movie is peppered with moments of melancholy, and even before we learn about Ok-boon’s story, we know that she, Min-jae and his brother have little to anchor themselves in the world other than daily routine, and as time passes, each other. So when things do get heavier, the change is more about the audience finding a deeper significance in the details we’ve been seeing all along, the new information giving us a different perspective on Ok-boon and her relationships.

If anything, while there were some very funny moments in the first half of the movie, it has an inertia that doesn’t quite let it get going until we get to the meat of Ok-boon’s secrets, the meaning that English holds for her, and what learning the language can allow her to do. The film might have been served better by shortening the slow-moving first half, or felt more balanced if we were given more insight into Min-jae’s life, his disappointed dreams, and his relationship with his brother, which are brought up but given only a cursory exploration. Ok-boon’s story is deservedly the main plot, and I appreciate the way the reveal is held back while she and Min-jae get to know each other, but the necessity of keeping such a large part of who she is in reserve until halfway through makes the story feel as though it lacks momentum up to that point. (There’s also some awkward English dialogue from supposedly native speakers, though it’s only a minor distraction.)

Still, that climax takes us somewhere far beyond where I was expecting this story to go, and addresses an issue that—although this based-on-true-events project is set a decade ago—is still relevant and moving today. As expected, national treasure Na Moon-hee gives a skillful performance, certainly deserving of all the best actress awards she received for this movie. She is the heart of this story, bringing both its laugh-out-loud humor and its moments of deepest pathos, convincingly portraying this lonely old woman who hides her soft and damaged heart under crustiness and overzealous regulation of her neighborhood.

The rest of the characters might fade into the background in comparison given their thin characterizations, but Na is the kind of actor who, rather than exposing her co-stars’ weaknesses, tends to bring them into her own reflected glow. That means that her interactions with even minor characters such as a resentful neighbor or a grumpy city official take on the flavor of real human interaction. And Lee Je-hoon, of course, is the perfect foil for her; his disappointed young salaryman who opens his heart to a cranky but adorable old lady may be a cliche, but he pulls it off as well as he does all of his roles.

I Can Speak is ultimately the story of a woman who finds her courage and her voice in the twilight of her life, and in the process realizes that taking the chance to speak might offer rewards even beyond what she expected. It’s an inspiring and unexpectedly rewarding viewing experience—just make sure to keep some tissues close at hand.

RELATED POSTS

Tags: ,

36

Required fields are marked *

movie reviews are back?!? WOW, DramaBeans! This makes me so happy !!! I will definitely check out this movie on the weekend :-)
Thank you, @laica

12
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh! When it was realeased, I dearly wanted to watch it but it wasn't showing in cinemas around me and I slowly forgot.

I ended up watching it just last month on a plane and dearly loved it. Although, maybe cos I was on a plane and bleary eyed on a long flight, I kind of wanted the execution to be a little tighter - let the highs be higher, the lows, lower. The ending was, to be honest, a bit of a "wrap up with a pretty bow" kind of ending, but I can't fault it for trying to end it with a feel-good ending. Stupid people at the ended sounded stupid, but then that's what stupid people in real life say too.

Still, it was a good heart-warming movie of lonely souls finding each other to gain and give support, and to show that there's still lots of love in this world. And that's all that matters.

6
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Stupid people at the ended sounded stupid, but then that's what stupid people in real life say too.

I just meant that the stupid-sounding people near the end of the people talk just like how stupid people in real life do. And they're just so infuriating.

4
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I knew what you meant. ;)

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Na Moon Hee broke my heart and patched it back up again in Just Between Lovers. Her relationship with Junho's character was the most beautiful thing. Clearly I have to watch this movie!

8
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

You must be reading my mind. That's exactly what I was thinking. Na Moon-hee was terrific in JUST BETWEEN LOVERS.

4
reply

Required fields are marked *

Totally agreed with both of you. I sobbed my heart out for all of them, but especially her. Everyone needs to watch Just Between Lovers.

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I thought it's a light-hearted comedy. Boy, I was wrong! There nothing in the preview and poster that indicated this movie would bring up one the most painful chapter in Korean history. This movie has its short-comings but still delivered its message brilliantly. The most memorable scene, beside ok-boon's speech in the Congress, was when ok-boon's good friend who had known her for years all of sudden ignored her. Just like ok-boon I thought she couldn't accept her past. Apparently she's angry because ok-boon never shared her pain with her. She felt that she's not a good enough friend for ok-boon that ok-boon didn't trust her. Their reconciliation was very sweet and poignant that the next thing I realized I was sobbing with them.

11
5
reply

Required fields are marked *

Same. I thought it was a comedy based off of the previews but I ended up crying buckets of tears. Na Mun-hee and Lee Je-hoon were both really great in this film.

9
reply

Required fields are marked *

IKR. I was ready to watch a light hearted movie on my long haul flight and ended up with swollen eyes.😭 So glad I picked this by accident.

7
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Hahaha.. I'm also like you. I thought it was a comedy. Dang it. I cried. A lot. Next to a stranger who also didnt slept.

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yup, me three. I also thought it will be a comedy but it turned out to be a tearjerker for me. Just like Hello Ghost with Cha Tae Hyun with the twist at the end of the movie.

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Same here! So I tried to warn people about that in the review without spoiling the reveal, which was very powerful. I guess that's why they marketed it as a comedy, but I dunno. I appreciate some warning about heavier movies so I can go in mentally prepared.

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I watched this on the plane on a business trip and I was such a blubbering mess when I got to my hotel I had to take a few hours before I could get back into the mindset of working on my presentation for the next day.

The movie's bait and switch was unexpected, and as someone who has a grandma who brought me up live through the horrors of the Japanese occupation, the movie's message was so important on a personal level.

Korea, your storytelling ability to strip to the heart of issues will always keep you miles ahead of Hollywood for me. Thank you for giving Asian stories a voice.

14
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

"Korea, your storytelling ability to strip to the heart of issues will always keep you miles ahead of Hollywood for me. Thank you for giving Asian stories a voice."

+1000

10
reply

Required fields are marked *

"Korea, your storytelling ability to strip to the heart of issues will always keep you miles ahead of Hollywood for me. Thank you for giving Asian stories a voice."

+2000

4
reply

Required fields are marked *

❤︎❤︎❤︎

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thank you for the review. Na Mun hee brings life and heart to everything she's in. Now if I can find it anywhere to watch.

4
5
reply

Required fields are marked *

VIU. If you have no problem with illegal site, ondramanice and fastdrama have it.

1
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Is there a way to determine which sites are legal and which sites are not legal? I have a couple of sites I go to but have no clue whether or not they're legal.

1
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Depends where u live. Netflix, Hulu, Viki, Dramafever, Viu, Amazon, Ondemandkorea, Kocowa are a few legal sites. Most others are illegal. Good way to tell is if the subtitles are hardburned and the webpage has ads (not to be confused w video ads), it’s probably illegal.

3
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I second @geliguolu

1

You can stream it via Dramacool or Myasiantv. Highly recommend this movie! I've watched it twice now.

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I've been just waiting for an excuse to watch this.

2
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm so delighted that the movie reviews are back.😍
I wanted to watch I can speakcoz of Le Je Hoon and No Moon Hee and now I got a excuse to watch this movie. Thank you, @laica ❤️
I am always love and prefer a heart warming movie.

4
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yay for the return of movie reviews! Thanks, Laica-- this wasn't on my radar but it sounds like it's right up my alley.

Na Moon-hee is one of my favorite actresses. She often plays "cantankerous but generous-hearted" characters (which she excels at), but the role of hers that stands out the most for me was that of Mi-young in Noh Hee-kyung's Goodbye Solo in which she played a kind halmeoni who, like her I Can Speak character, was hiding a very painful past, but in Goodbye Solo, she literally couldn't speak (she was mute). She has a gift for touching my heart, as well as for making me laugh.

4
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I love her. Na Mun-hee.

3
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

@laica -- thank you for posting your review of this touching story and excellent portrayals of the characters by both Na Mun-hee and Lee Je-hoon! i LOVED this movie, it was heartwarming, heartbreaking, educational and inspirational...

4
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

To think I just watched this on the plane and here I see it on dramabeans! I dived into this movie thinking to enjoy a sweet time listening to Lee Je-hoon speaking english but Wow, was I ever wrong to what this show was actually about. It was such a great watch and it left me with much to ponder about the people around us any what sort of life they are living that we are unable to see.

5
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

LOVED this movie! Such a great story and it was so funny yet heart warming and touching. Definitely a highly recommended movie. Everyone should go watch it. I don't know where you can watch it though. I think I saw it on a flight going to or coming back from Korea.

4
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thank you, Laica, for your review of I CAN SPEAK. It really does sound quite different from the preview that tineybeanie mentioned in her article a year ago, which I seem to have missed at the time. http://www.dramabeans.com/2017/08/devil-granny-na-mun-hee-and-rule-abiding-lee-je-hoon-meet-for-film-i-can-speak/. That very quality of examining the human condition in unexpected ways that you cite in your review is what has kept me coming back for more after I first encountered Kdrama. I appreciate the heads-up. MISS GRANNY was my introduction to Na Moon-hee, who truly is a national treasure. Judging by her recent drama turn in JUST BETWEEN LOVERS, my lachrymal glands will get a workout.

3
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

A must-see. I already know I'm going to cry my eyes out.

3
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Wow! What a surprise! I loveeeee this movie. I went to it thinking it was a lighthearted one and an easy watch. It so was not. The first half made me feel like I was right but then the second half came in and it was a real shocker. It felt a little bit too sudden for me like it was a different movie but thinking back, it wasn't bad at all. It seemed like they advertised it as something else (a more "public friendly" movie) so they can send the message to more people.

Definitely needed a lot of tissue for this.

3
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I watched this a month ago, and I agree on the tissue part. The last part was so heart wrenchingly beautiful I cried ugly fat tears. A very good watch.

2
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

This is one of my favorite movies! Awesomely acted by Na Mun-hee and Lee Je-hoon whose characters embedded themselves in my heart. So heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, I cried buckets watching it. I have never looked at the generic "How are you? I am fine thank you and you?" greeting the same way again after this movie ♥

I agree with Laica, the shift never felt jarring cos of the editing and acting. I also have the same problem when watching Korean movies: at most times they seem rushed to me and the sudden shifts in plots give me whiplash. Obviously because of the time constraint, but the flow and editing are just, idk. Then the movie is over before the characters could grow on me (1987, Assassination, Secretly, Greatly, etc) and I feel all bereft and empty 'cos I wanted to feel more.

This movie was an exception. Still, it would have made a great drama! A lot of Korean movies would make a great drama actually. Provided they were the same cast.. lol

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

This film is heart-warming. I like all characters. Both Jehoon and Na Moonhee's characters are memorable and interesting. Especially Na Moonhee, she totally killed it, well deserved Best Actress of the Year.

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *