Image Credit: Eunwook via AsianWiki
One Way Trip / Glory Day / 글로리데이 (2015)
Boys Grow Up Unexpectedly
About One Way Trip
"One Way Trip" or also called "Glory Day" is a Korean movie which first displayed at the 20th Busan International Film Festival, October 2015. This movie then generally released on March 24, 2016. With a duration of about 93 minutes, "One Way Trip" directed by Choi Jung Yeol. Here is the details about the movie:
"ONE WAY TRIP Official International Main Trailer"
Video Credit: Youtube via CJ ENTERTAINMENT
Directed by Choi Jung-yeol
Produced by Lim Soon-rye
Screenplay by Choi Jung-yeol
Cinematography Lee Hyung-Bin
Edited by Lee Yeon-Jeong
Production company Bori Picture
Distributed by CJ Entertainment
Release date October 2015 (Busan IFF) & March 24, 2016
Running time 93 minutes
Country South Korea
Language Korean
Box office $1,316,279Credit: wikipedia
Story of One Way Trip
Yong-bi, Sang-woo, Ji-gong, and Doo-man are best friend. They decided to go to Pohang for a farewell trip with Sang-woo who will soon do military service in a few days. On one night, they drink near the beach and to enjoy the sea. Later, they found a suspicious car and decided to take a closer look. Then, they see a woman out of the car and get beaten by a man. They decided to save her.
"Yong-bi and his friends went to pick Sang-woo up and go to Pohang"
Image Credit: HanCinema
And the story that they never imagined began. . .
Cast and Characters
"The Cast of One Way Trip"
Image Credit: AsianWiki
- Ji Soo as Yong-bi
Kind of troubled kid from a broken family which live with his older brother. He has strong character and uncontrolled emotions.. - Suho as Sang-woo
Kind and handsome kid who live only with his grandmother who worked hard for money. - Ryoo Joon-yeol as Ji-gong
A troubled kid from middle-class family. His mother always forced him to stay in home for study. - Kim Hee-chan as Doo-man
A baseball player, kind and timid kid who play baseball by force of his father. Actually, he hate baseball.
Glory Day
"Glory Days" is the other name of this movie which is used in South Korea, while "One Way Trip" is the title used in the international sphere. I finished watching this movie last night and the first thing I had in mind when searching information about this movie is, "One Way Trip" reminds me of a Korean movie which has a similar theme, namely "Bleak Night (2010)" by Yoon Sung-Hyun. Both took the theme of friendship as a part of the story but processed in a different way and that is why I decided to watch this movie.
"Yong-bi and his friends trying to save someone"
Image Credit: AsianWiki
"One Way Trip" was not the kind of movie that tells about how beautiful of a friendship is, like in popular Korean drama "School: 2013", but this movie tells the story of how is person's reaction when confronted in certain circumstances in a friendship and how the people around them handle it. Which in this movie is about four best friends, Yong-bi, Sang-woo, Ji-gong, and Doo-man, who were arrested by police due to violence case.
They began to show their true nature as a human being when they are forced and transferred into custody. Their friendship gradually began to crack and they started to blame each other to choose who is more responsible for all this. And of course, the adults in this case is their family and the police also took a part in it. At the end of story, this movie choose an unbelievable decision which made me very angry and relieved at the same time. Yeah, "One Way Trip" choose a realistic and bittersweet end which could happen in the real life these days, rather than happy ending only to satisfy the audience.
"Yong-bi and his friends being transferred to custody"
Image Credit: HanCinema
"One Way Trip" tells the story about four growing up boys who face a difficult problem which they must choose between loyalty and betrayal. Just like the quote in this movie poster, "Boys grow up unexpectedly", the four best friends in this movie grow up from different family and environment, and indirectly it affects their character today. Take the example of Yong-bi who is growing up in broken family and now living with his brother. When he saw someone commit violence and injustice, then he will not stay put, because he does not want others to experience the same situation as his life. But in the end he has to choose the bitter decision.
Living in this world, sometimes when we didn't do something wrong, we must admit that we do it, and sometimes even if we did it, we must admit that we didn't do it.
Things that I do not like when I saw a scene where a police interrogating a suspect in Korean movies or dramas is, sometimes they will do everything they can to get the confession of the suspect that he was guilty even though he was innocent. And when a police knows that he is innocent then they will try to cover up their mistakes and still insist that the suspect is guilty. This kind of situation also not much different with what happens in this movie.
"Yong-bi and his friends chased by police"
Image Credit: HanCinema
"One Way Trip" also portray how corrupted the police nowadays in handling case of powerless people. Just like how police handling the case in this movie. They were not concerned about who is right and who is wrong, they just want this case to be resolved quickly as soon as possible because it involves the people with power. They did not conduct investigation thoroughly just because the suspect is young and from powerless family. And of course, there is also police who is good and honest who is thought that they need to reconsider their decision about this case, but if they are powerless, in the end they could not do anything. Ironically, this kind of story really happened in our society.
"Yong-bi and Sang-woo drinking together"
Image Credit: HanCinema
Personally, I like the way "One Way Trip" presents the story between past and present. They presents the stories of the past and present alternately. Yeah, it could be confusing and disturbing at one point, but I think it matched perfectly with the dark vibe of this movie.
"Ji Soo as Yong-bi"
Image Credit: HanCinema
Thanks to "One Way Trip", Ji Soo as Yong-bi was nominated in "37th Blue Dragon Film Awards" in "Best New Actor" category. Even though, he did not win, but at least he got a recognition as an actor. I knew him since he played the role of Go Bok-dong in Korean drama "Angry Mom (2015)", where he became the scene-stealer in that drama and widely known since then. Yeah, I knew he has potential as a young actor. The way he portray Yong-bi in this movie was really stand out and convincing.
The acting of others, like Kim Jun-myeon (Suho of EXO), Ryoo Joon-yeol, and Kim Hee-chan also did good job even though not strong as Ji Soo. Not to mention, Kim Dong-wan (member of SINHWA) as Yong-bi's older brother, even though he only had small part in the movie but his acting was good.
"Sang-woo, Yong-bi, Ji-gong, Doo-man"
Image Credit: i.ytimg.com
Other than that, "One Way Trip" won the award in "2016 Hanoi International Film Festival" in category of "Jury's Award for Best Feature". Yeah, Choi Jeong-yeol as the director of this movie he deserved this award for his bold and daring story of "One Way Trip".
Overall, I would recommend "One Way Trip" if you want to watch unusual Korean movie about youth and friendship with unexpected story. You will see how coward and weak humans can be if they have to face a certain situation they never imagine. Be prepared for unbelievable ending.
Image Credit: BoxAsian
