ChFilm to Miss: Finding Mr. Right (2013)

Finding Mr. Right (2013)

(Chinese Film) Jia Jia, a beautiful young woman and mistress to a married Chinese businessman, becomes pregnant and travels to America to have the baby. Apparently the laws in China do not hold the man responsible in this situation, nor is the mother able to report the child or qualify for health care. When Jia Jia arrives in America, a scruffy-looking man picks her up and takes her to a house that is run by a Chinese woman who provides room and board for other pregnant women in similar situations, for a fee. Jia Jia soon discovers that the scruffy driver, Frank, is actually a former doctor that is staying home to raise his daughter while his wife earns the money. Will Jia Jia come to develop feelings for the doting family man, or will Jia Jia return to her former life with the businessman in China once the baby is born?

*I was surprised at how somber this film felt, since the poster made it seem like it would be funnier. There was a lot of American music, with the “Sleepless in Seattle” movie as a main source of inspiration for this movie. There is a lesbian couple that gets some screen time, there was NO KISSING in this movie, and I just couldn't like Jia Jia because of what she did to be in her situation. She admits feeling guilty “at first,” but the film glosses over the fact she slept with someone's husband; she never repents, yet she still has the picture-perfect ending. So for all those reasons, I wouldn't watch this again.*

KDrama to Watch: Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)

Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)

Grade: B+

20 Episodes

Kim Yoon Hee is forced to impersonate her own brother as a means of obtaining income for their family. Yoon Hee learned much of the classics by eavesdropping on her brother's lessons when her father was still alive, so she is talented enough to take small jobs at the local book shop. There is an urgent need for something more lucrative, however, when the noble who paid for her brother's medical expenses tries to take Yoon Hee as a concubine to pay off their debt – something completely within his legal rights, since women were property at this time in history. Out of desperation, Yoon Hee agrees to be a stand-in for someone attempting to earn entry into the prestigious Sung Kyun Kwan academy by attending the entrance exam in someone's place. Upright Lee Sun-joon catches Yoon Hee in the act, but instead of turning her in, he challenges her to take the exam for herself (thinking she was her brother, Yoon Shik). Yoon Hee earns entrance to the academy – but will she be able to keep her secret while living in a school full of young men? What will she do when she learns the truth behind her father's death?

*This is the VERY FIRST historical drama that I have even remotely enjoyed. It has decent pacing, well-written characters, and even the music is engaging, with a good balance of variety and familiarity among the musical themes. I did not enjoy the gisaeng element, as it hearkens to a time in human history where women actually aspired to be glorified sex slaves since it often meant a more comfortable lifestyle, but luckily it is not the main focus of this drama. It was fun to watch the reactions of the guy friends as they found out, one by one, she is actually a girl and how they handle it afterwards. Gu Yong-ha played by Song Joong-ki was probably my favorite character overall, and while all the guys were fun to watch, the ending is somewhat lacking. The search for and buildup over the fabled document that would help the king reform Joseon wasn't resolved very well, and the series ends with Yoon Hee basically forever impersonating a man – not affecting any real change in their world, except from the acknowledgment of those few who agree to continue keeping her secret. I would probably watch this again, and I definitely recommend it to others.*