Love, So Divine is the second Korean film that I’ve seen (the first being My Sassy Girl).
Released in 2004, the movie stars Kwon Sang-woo as a pious young seminarian named Kyushik, whose main goal is to become a priest but was sent to a test of spiritual endurance at a remote parish due to a mistake made by his delinquent friend named, Sundal played by In-kwon Kim, during a school mass.
There, he meets Bonghee, portrayed by Ha Ji-won, the often rude and wild niece of Father Nam (In-mun Kim) who just returned from the US only to find out that she had been dumped by her boyfriend. Theirs was initially a love-hate relationship due to conflicting beliefs and outlooks in life but it took a different turn when Kyushik was tasked by the old parish priest to teach catechism to his niece in preparation for baptism.
Daunting as it is, the task proves to be a way for them to fully explore their true feelings, eventually developing an attraction to one another. However, things get more complicated as Kyushik’s ordination draws nearer and Bonghee’s ex-boyfriend had returned prompting them to make the hardest decisions in their lives.
This movie is not technically superior with regard to acting but I would say that it’s main draw is with it’s witty storyline and how it depicts a portion of Korean culture that is somehow unknown to most people elsewhere around the world. Actually, I have no idea that there were Korean Catholics until I saw the film. Since I came from the Philippines where a vast majority of the population is Catholic, Love, So Divine made me realize that Korean culture is not really too different from mine and I would say that the presentation of the Catholic Church, its doctrines and issues it faces is realistic without appearing too preachy.
Although the main conflict falls on Kyushik’s character, the much harder decision was really on Bonghee’s part for she must choose between reconciling with her ex-boyfriend and allowing him to become a priest or to acknowledge his love and let go of her old flame. On a personal note, I would say that Love, So Divine is not just a romantic comedy but also intellectual and spiritually challenging for it presents the harsh reality of how one’s faith and beliefs can affect in making difficult and life-changing decisions that could make or break a person. It also presents the fact that sometimes, we get the answers to our questions through the most unlikely situations or person as was depicted on the pre-ordination scene where Sundal, the horny seminarian, told Kyusuk that what the latter felt for Bonghee is not sin but actually real love and that God is proud of him for doing so.
As a whole, Love, So Divine does not only bring you the laughter or the sizzle of romance but it also its audience an understanding of one’s humanity and the aspiration to achieve love and happiness in their truest sense.
