Made on the Rooftop

Light, but not lightweight

The story tells the tale of two openly gay Korean friends, Haneul and Bongshik, and what happens over the course of a few months after Haneul breaks up with his partner of 3 years and moves in with his friend. Accordingly, the story does address several issues that most gay men could relate to, the most of which are very common themes, maybe too common, in other gay films. However, the screenwriter managed to keep it refreshing, by including jokes, puns and showing different aspects of the characters' lives. So, while I think some of the themes were already better discussed in other films, what makes this film stand out is how accurately it portrays human lives - sometimes full of conflicts and drama, sometimes light and fun, and sometimes a combination of them all.

The acting is one of the strong points of the film, and in my opinion all actors played their characters perfectly and realistically.

I watched it during a film festival event, but I would watch it again probably as soon as it's released with English subtitles (if only just to screenshot the Chungha reference)

9/10

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well done realistic movie

Overall: two realistically flawed characters and friends work to figure out what they want in their lives. Watched on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/3082/made-on-rooftop-2020

Content Warnings: hit with a broom, grief

What I Liked
- character growth from the two main characters
- Sunja was awesome, favorite lines "get your shit together" and "you are pretty but you need to do more than just talk"
- how Min Ho was direct and sought to communicate (though didn't appreciate some of his comments in the Live)
- their friendship felt realistic, they both got annoyed with and supported each other
- cute moments
- funny moments (I snorted at the beans)
- production value
- the symbolism of the plants on the rooftop

Room For Improvement
- the beginning was unnecessarily confusing because of showing the present, flashback and then present again without clear time jumps
- he didn't know the password? but maybe that shows how their communication/relationship wasn't the best
- wanted a little more communication around what Bong Shik revealed, it didn't need to be preachy but many people are mis or uninformed and I think it was a missed opportunity (i.e. he could explain what he was taking and what the risks would be)
- I needed a bit more closure/less open ending with 1 couple

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Acceptance

On the surface, it is just a silly romcom about people meeting and breaking up. Something seen so many times. But just on the surface. Because the moment you throw in the mix gay main characters the story gets to be so much more than a simple romcom.

The plot follows two best friends, HaNeul and Bong Shik and their relationships. HaNeul has been in a long-term relationship with a closeted man who does not dare tell his family that the person he loves deeply is a man. HaNeul finds that so frustrating and they keep fighting and breaking up repeatedly. Until one day HaNeul is kicked out and goes to squat with his friend Bong Shik. He is a youtuber who pretends he plays badminton. One day he catches the eye of a real badminton player who persist in hitting on him. Bur BongShik is does not want a relationship because he is HIV+.

The main characters are worried about acceptance, how the others see them and will they like them for what they are be it gay or ill or both. The actors are all extraordinary and the award goes to the actor who plays HaNeul, Lee Hong Nae: he is handsome, cute and so talented. He manages to bring to life the emotions and conflicts and fiery temperament. The other actors are just as good! And of course there is the staple of korean cinema and tv: the ajumma herself, Lee Jung Eun, brilliant as always.

Production values are rather low: this looks and feels like a short web movie. The kind you find loads of on youtube. But a bit longer. I guess they did not have much of a budget and the cameras they used must not have been very sophisticated because everything is so cold and clinically sharp. Because of it, I had a bit of trouble getting into the movie, I could not feel anything special about it. And then I realized I did. There is one song and it was hilarious: the guys at one point sing a silly song during their podcast and it is to be seen to be believed. Magic!

The director managed to make the film seem light and fluffy while correctly treating serious issues. Kudos! Well done!

This is a lovely movie and definitely a very good, uplifting rewatch! Go for it!

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According to the info on GagaOOLala's page for this film, it was screened at several festivals and won the 2021 Korean Association of Film Critics Awards for Best New Actor; and rightfully so.

I found it to be a solid film, with a well-written script, fine acting and overall thoughtful design choices. It's "slice-of-life" in the sense that we only see the turning point in the protagonists' lives, with only hints of what happened before and an indication of what will happen after the ending credits.

The ending that doesn't tie everything up with a nice and neat bow is a suitable choice for the underlying universal themes of the film: the fragility of life, the struggle to find what you want and can do, the importance of listening and trying to understand.
And while it is a film that talks about themes that concern every human being in this earth, it also picks up topics specific to life as a gay man (some of them stereotypically so), and as such it is very much a gay film.

And even with all of these heavy themes, the characters are what bring the film to life and give it a wonderfully light optimism. Both Bongshik and Haneul are extremely likeable and realistically written characters, who get a decent bit of character growth in the one-and-a-half hour of the film's runtime.

Was it good?
I think so, I loved the actors' performance and the mix of lightness with heavier themes.

Did I like it?
It made me laugh and cry with the characters, which is always a good sign.

Would I recommend it?
Yes! It might not be the world's most groundbreaking film, but it's a solid production.

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