Location

My Dear Desperado

Times are tough for young people, even in Korea. With a new high tech job, a new place to live in Seoul, and a new relationship, Se-jin (Jeong Yu-mi) is on her way to the perfect life—or so she thinks. When the life she expected falls apart amid the economic recession, she is forced to live in a low-income community to make ends meet. Job Interviews and opportunity come and go, as Se-jin maintains a steady diet of cheap instant noodles and does her best to hide her difficulties from her family. At times it seems like her only friend is her boorish neighbor, Dong-chul (Park Joong-hoon)—a hapless 40-something gangster with a good heart but no manners. The two become kindred spirits of sorts: he having squandered his youth and she struggling desperately to succeed in hers, both must face disappointment, grief, and the unfairness of life as they search for some kind of solace. When Se-jin is about to give up on her dreams forever, Dong-chul realizes what he must do—and sacrifice—to prevent another lost youth.

My Dear Desperado (2010), by director Kim Kwang-sik, skirts the line between comedy and serious drama. It is rated R for strong language, sexual situations, and violence.