Love Me Not (2006)
aka. I Don’t Need Love

Starring:
Kim Joo-hyeok (김주혁)
Moon Geun-yeong (문근영)
Do Ji-won (도지원)
Jin Goo (진구)
Choi Seong-ho (최성호)

- Official Site, Trailer, Music video

ORDER ONLINE: Love Me Not (2006)

Korean cinema sweetheart Moon Geun Young has undeniably come into her own as an actress. Having proven her acting skills and box office draw with films like Tale of Two Sisters, My Little Bride, and Innocent Steps, the young actress is ready to take on a more mature role. Departing from the endearing characters of her previous films, Moon takes on the challenge of playing a blind, emotionally distant young woman opposite the ruggedly handsome Kim Joo Hyuk (Lovers in Prague) in Love Me Not. A remake of popular Japanese television drama Ai Nante Irane Yo, Natsu, Love Me Not is the debut feature from Lee Cheol Ha, who previously served as assistant director for Il Mare. Though dark in tone, the beautifully shot Love Me Not is as moving as it is chilling, presenting a pure love between two lonely souls.Suave womanizer Julian (Kim Joo Hyuk) has lived a fairly comfortable life by swindling rich woman, but a costly miscalculation leaves him in serious debt to the tone of three billion won. He has one month to pay off his debt, or meet a bloody end in the hands of notorious debtor Gwang Soo (Lee Ki Young, Marathon). Julian comes up with a malicious plan to pose as the long-lost brother of blind heiress Ryu Min (Moon Geun Young), and then murder her to inherit the fortune. Julian meets his match with the cold and distrusting Min, but over time their hearts begin to open to each other. The only problem: Gwang Soo is still waiting.

Review by: frostedchinadoll

Deep and bittersweet–those were the words that immedietly came to mind as I reached the climax of the movie. Trailers from the movie sold it as the typical melodrama–and I thought it as such until 10 minutes into the story. Love Me Not brings a new twist into the swindler-meets-heiress lovestory and takes it to another level.

“A swindler living in deceit, an heiress living in darkness.”

The movie itself is multi-faceted. The surface was a love story, but beneath was the development of both our protagonists… an external and internal conflict. The depth to which the characters were taken that really impressed me. We have two individuals, jaded and angst-driven, but as the story progresses you’re taken in by each of them. More than just understanding, you begin to see and feel.
For Min, it was the process of breaking and coming out of the shell she had built around herself. She was so intelligent, but the hostile environment she lived in made her wallow in self-pity and exhausted her strength. When she went out of the house on her own despite her fear of people, when she asked for help in asking directions-it took a lot from her. I really appreciated that. Although it was her jaded persona that attracted Julian’s attention, it was when she gradually began to bloom under his care that had him fascinated. How she handled everything at the end showed her maturity and how she had come so far. But she still gets my vote for favorite bitchy moment-that fake smile was really something. XD
Julian was such a paradox to me. His bad-ass personality was as clear a day but you never know what he’s thinking of or what he’ll do next. He saw part of himself in Min–apathetic and cynical. But then he be began to see the hopeful child underneath… in the end they were each other’s lifeline.
His play with the devil that was really fascinating, though. You have that sadistic debt collector (devil incarnate I tell you) who drives Julian to the edge, taunting him, and that little sidekick of his who whispers in his ear. Its the perfect example of how the devil doesnt mess with your business but makes sure you spiral down that path.

Critics were raving about Moon Geun-yeong in this role, but it was nothing out of the ordinary. I mean, she’s always been a great actress so I didn’t expect any less from her (the only times that I cried in Autumn in My Heart were her scenes >_<) Kim Joo-hyeok as well did fine~ I was well aware of their age gap in the beginning (15 years?) but it didnt bother me as much as I expected it to… I guess thats where great acting comes from.

Very nice movie, I’m smelling a hollywood remake of this in the future.

• Rating: 5/5
• Recommended.