Three struggling musicians find success with the help of a mysterious woman, but she may destroy them as well

The story of Mi-in, opens with three struggling rock musicians pounding the pavement looking for work.  They search the streets of modern Seoul, but are ejected from every night club, cafe, and bar they visit.  It is apparent from their conversation that they are accustomed to this kind of rejection. It also becomes apparent that they have not worked in awhile as their landlord kicks them out for non-payment. Broke and wandering the streets with their meager possessions, they eventually give in to hunger and are at the point of trading their instruments for food when they meet an unnamed young woman (Kim Mi-yeong).  She overhears their plight and pays for their meal. She reveals that she lives in the same boarding house as they did, and she squares things with the landlord, paying their rent for a month. Naturally, the men are grateful.  However, the band's leader, Shin Jung-hyeon (playing himself), takes the woman's kindness to have deeper meaning.  He begins fantasizing scenarios where he confesses his love to her and she shyly admits her attraction to him.  Shortly thereafter, the band lands a job and rather quickly become the hottest attraction in Seoul. The men celebrate their first paycheck by preparing gifts to thank the woman to whom they credit their success.  However, they are disappointed to learn that she has apparently moved out of the building.  Their meteoric rise continues but Jung-hyeon's fantasies have become an obsession that threaten to destroy the band. Composer and musician Shin Jung-hyeon did an adequate job in his big screen debut but he was no stranger to movies, having written musical scores for the films such as The Blue Apple (1969) and Oh My Love (1970). His plain and rather dumpy appearance lent believability to this role where a simple act of kindness is interpreted as much more. His character is not well acquainted with women and all of his fantasies are re-creations of movie scenes. I recognized Love Story, Romeo and Juliet and the Graduate among them. Kim Mi-yeong, who previously appeared in One-Eyed Jack In Hong Kong, also does well with what is given her. The actress was required to develop two distinct personalities for the character--one for the fantasy life created by Jung-hyeon, and one for reality which is revealed near the end of the film. Performances by supporting actors Lee Nam-yi and Kwon Yong-nam as the base player and drummer are good. I was surprised to learn that this was their only movie credit so they may in fact have been musicians not actors. So Yeon, who played the band's vocalist Kang-hie, appeared miscast as the role required a much younger woman, however one must assume that she was chosen on account of her singing voice rather than her age or acting ability. Lee Hyeong-pyo was a prolific director of the late 1960's and through the 70's with about 60 films in his filmography. Many of his other movies focus on redemption and the correction of one's faults. Mi-in differs in that the main character is mired in his imaginary world which eventually threatens his success, friendships and sanity but when reality rears its ugly head, he makes no attempt to recognize or correct his mistakes.

Be warned, however, that the 70's rock music dubbed in and overly used throughout the movie, is not for everyone and the sound, as usual for the older Korean movies, is not in synch with the images which can be very distracting.

Korean cinema is known for its mastery of genre, fluidly blending thriller, drama, and dark comedy with social critique. The post-1990s renaissance brought bold storytelling and masterful craft to the world stage, addressing class, identity, and modern anxieties with cinematic flair.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The musical genre features stories that combine music, singing, dancing, acting, and often spoken dialogue to tell a story or convey a narrative. Musicals incorporate various elements of drama, music, and choreography to create a cohesive theatrical experience that engages audiences on multiple levels.

Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965)

The romance genre features the theme of romantic relationships and emotional connections between characters. These stories focus on the development of love, desire, and intimacy between protagonists, often exploring the challenges, conflicts, and triumphs that arise in their relationships.

Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)

Shin Jung-Hyeon, Kon-Chi, and Dong-Ho are poor musicians. Since they have excellent ability but don't have money, they don't have jobs. A beauty treats them with kindness. She gives them money for the house and drink, and gives comfort to their minds, too. One day, they grow rapidly into favor. The beauty Shin Jung-Hyeon loves disappears. They thought her a student, but in fact, she is a call girl. Knowing this, Shin Jung-Hyeon sings with almost mad feelings.

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