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Will You Be There?:
A Gentle Journey Through Time
We are looking at a romantic story to its core, this time embedded in the world of time-travel cinema. Although the events revolve around a tragedy, do not expect a harrowing experience. For some, the film might feel a bit light because of this, while others will likely find it all the more endearing for the same reason.
The opening scenes, intended to explain how our protagonist acquires the pills that enable time travel, promise something slightly different from what follows. The steady dramatic pace remains, but fortunately, the heavy mysticism with which director Hong Ji-young portrays an elderly Cambodian man—so earnestly that it borders on unintentional comedy—fades away. It is indeed difficult to watch those moments without a slight smile.
Humor subtly weaves through the entire film, making excellent use of situational comedy. This provides a fantastic playground for the two leads, who are actually playing one person: the younger and older versions of the same man meet to change a fatal accident from the past. Actors Kim Yun-seok and Byun Yo-han seize this opportunity brilliantly, maintaining their dramatic weight throughout. The same can be said for Kim Sang-ho, who plays the best friend. In the role of the girl, Chae Seo-jin is a wonderfully charming and kind presence; she was simply born to be a romantic heroine. Her older self is brought to life by Kim Ho-jung.
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| Byun Yo-han |
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| Kim Yun-seok |
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| Kim Sang-ho |
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| Chae Seo-jin |
It is worth highlighting that the film offers a complete visual experience; Hong Ji-young’s sensitive cinematic vision is truly captivating. She also wrote the screenplay, which is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by French author Guillaume Musso.
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| Director Hong Ji-young |
The story, while oscillating between timelines, moves forward linearly. The greatest thrill for the audience lies in contemplating how altering elements of the past might affect the future. Although there is no shortage of twists, events follow one another smoothly—perhaps too smoothly—constantly signaling that we don't need to be worried to death.
The final sequence again feels somewhat detached from the rest of the film. The resolution is a bit too trivial, serving the sole purpose of navigating quickly toward a reassuring conclusion.
All that said, Will You Be There? offers a pleasant and entertaining experience for anyone who chooses it.
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