Persona (2019) Series Review

 

Persona | 2019 | 4 episodes
Genre: Drama/Thriller | Country: South Korea
IMDB: 6.5/10
My Rate: 9/10

Presents four different stories with four characters or personas from different directors about love in many forms, sincerity, revenge, and loss that will shatter hearts and minds.

Warning:

Scenes of violence, self-harm, coarse language, smoking, alcohol, and heavy themes

 
Synopsis:

Four different stories acted by IU raise themes about love. Not only that, but they also present themes about sincerity, the meaning of love, love in different forms, and also about loss. There are four episodes in this series with durations of approximately 19 to 30 minutes. The episode details are as follows:

Episode 1: Love Set

A young woman watches a tennis match between a man and another woman. However, jealousy shines in the young woman's eyes. She calls her friend to come and asks her to flirt with the woman. However, it turns out that the man is the young woman's father, and the young woman does not want her father to have a relationship. A fight then occurs between the young woman and her father's lover.

Episode 2: Collector

A man reunites with his lover who disappeared for several days without news. The woman says that she just returned from a vacation with her friends. The man feels upset and jealous of the woman's attitude. That feeling arises because he feels he has sacrificed everything just to be with the woman, including breaking off his engagement. However, the woman seems to be a different person, especially after seeing her interact with another man. The man tries to show his feelings to the woman.

Episode 3: Kiss Burn

Han-na cannot contact Hye-bok, her friend. She goes to Hye-bok's house and only finds Hye-bok's father there. Believing that Hye-bok is actually at home, Han-na hides and waits for the right time to look for Hye-bok. When she finds Hye-bok, she appears to have many kiss marks that she got from a man she met on the beach. Hye-bok also has a strange haircut, cut by her drunken father. Han-na and Hye-bok want to take revenge for what happened to Hye-bok, but they do not know whom to take revenge on. Finally, the choice falls on Hye-bok’s father. They try every way to ‘harm him,’ but all fail.

Episode 4: Walking at Night

A couple walks together along the road at night. They recall their past and the memories they have shared. Reality hits the man again as he realizes that the woman he has loved all this time has actually passed away. The journey he is going through now is just a dream. However, a deep conversation takes place between them. The woman does not want the man to feel guilty about her death. 

 
Review:

"There are people who know me, and people who don't"

Persona is a series consisting of four episodes with different stories. There is no connection between one episode and another. Each episode is presented in a unique way with meaningful stories. Unfortunately, the first episode feels less than optimal.

The first episode, Love Set, serves as the opener for this series. The story idea is actually interesting, about a child’s love for her father and not wanting him to remarry. However, this idea is presented less effectively.

The unclear background of the characters weakens the story’s foundation. For 15 minutes, viewers are only shown tennis scenes with several extreme close-ups on some details. The unclear characters and scenes also make this episode less impactful.

The conflict presentation is quite visible, especially the inner conflict of the main character. The resolution is well presented with character development of the protagonist. However, the father’s expressions in the film are somewhat confusing.

The second episode, Collector, presents a deep story and is interestingly delivered using several symbols and analogies. The acting by the players is very good, with well-built chemistry. The choice of music and camera movements truly match each scene.

The background of the characters and story is well built. The arising conflict is gradually developed, and the problem to be addressed is clearly visible. The resolution is also well done with an unpredictable twist. The mystery is presented in the right proportion and forms a harmonious whole.

The third episode, Kiss Burn, raises a somewhat lighter theme but is also full of meaning about a unique friendship. Many funny events are presented in this episode. Unlike the other three episodes, here we see a brighter side of IU’s acting.

The story is presented systematically, and the background is well delivered. Each character has a clear function. The arising conflict is quite interesting, with a resolution that surprises the audience.

The fourth episode is Walking at Night. This episode truly leaves a deep impression. The story about loss and guilt is the main topic raised. Although not many characters appear, the story feels dense. The dialogues used well depict the story’s content and the characters’ feelings.

The background of the story is well presented. The conflict arises gradually with a very good resolution. The choice of songs plays an important role in adding a deep impression in each scene. The black-and-white color composition used also gives a different impression from the other episodes.

Overall, this series presents an interesting story to watch. Unfortunately, placing the episode Love Set at the beginning of the series might not be a very good choice. Nevertheless, the story can still be enjoyed well. However, it can be said that this episode is somewhat unclear in the message it wants to convey.

Episodes 2 and 4 actually leave a very deep impression. However, perhaps the most impressive episode choice falls on episode 4. When watching this episode, we can feel a calm and profound atmosphere. The dialogues used and the interactions between the actors also appear emotionally close.

This series is suitable for those who like films with psychological themes. Especially for fans of IU, because IU delivers stunning acting with all the different characters.

Also watch Persona: Sulli, which also presents an interesting story. Although it is presented differently because the incident that befell Sulli made the story unable to be completed.

 
Recommendation:

Must Watch

(Aluna)