Wanbyeokhan tain / Intimate Strangers (2018) - When private, public and secret lives collide - 6/10 (05/01/20)

Intimate Strangers is the South Korean remake of the Spanish remake of an Italian movie. That might sound terrible at first contact but Intimate Strangers is actually a rather solid tragicomedy.

The story revolves around a group of former high school friends who meet for a lunar eclipse and a house party. They decide to put their cell phones openly on the table as they pretend that they don't have anything to hide from one another. Things quickly spiral out of control as the group members discover shocking secrets of their friends.

On the positive side, the actresses and actors did an excellent job and are playing their roles with enthusiasm. The numerous secrets that are progressively being revealed are quite intriguing and blend in with the different characters. The movie offers food for thought and makes you wonder how well you really know those who are closest to you. The movie explains that there are three types of lives: a public life, a private life and a secret life.

On the negative side, the movie almost entirely consists of lengthy dialogues and monologues which make it hard to digest. The settings are static and uninteresting. The number of secrets being revealed is not realistic at all. The conclusion to the movie in form of a twist is lazy and disappointing.

To keep it short, Intimate Strangers is a tragicomedy saved by a strong cast and offers some food for thought. The execution is however lacking wit and realism. I would recommend this movie to avid fans of contemporary South Korean cinema only.