The enigmatic debut feature by Han Chang-lok takes its original title, Chung Chung Chung, or Funky Freaky Freaks when translated in English, from the first syllables of three chapter headings that appear midway through the film: ‘Chung-dong’ (impluse), ‘Chung-dol’ (collision), and ‘Chung-gyeok’ (shock). Ji-sook, a high school girl with her own troubles; her boyfriend Yong-gi, who believes that, “protecting this girl is the same as saving the world”; and their friend Dum-bo, hang out together, wriggling about like the caterpillars in the opening scene. However, problems arise when ‘pretty boy’ Woo-joo transfers to their school and Ji-sook falls for him at first sight. From such a setup, one might expect a bundle of cliches, but the story you’re anticipating ends much earlier than you think. The exuberant camera never sits still, fragmenting scenes into image bursts that play out like an MTV collage. Over this spectacle of colors, which seem almost painted over in post-production, a drum and bass soundtrack throbs like the protagonists′ racing hearts. Caught in a cycle of love and betrayal, everyone is at a loss, yet no one would dare call it a cliche pop song lyric. The comical beginning hurtles toward a downfall far more tragically brutal than you can imagine.
