This Young Man's Burden
'Before the Call' | James Choi
Dear Moviegoers,
Given the current global political climate, where countries conduct invasions and fascism spreads like wildfire, enlisting for military service - while noble - is a dangerous decision when living in such an "advanced" era. The South Korean drama Before the Call takes national service and violent conflict, and places the weight of everything on the shoulders of one young man. His moment is now, but voluntarily in his case. Flip a coin, and it seems like he's abandoning someone or something. That's quite the weight to carry.
The character Jinwoo lives as someone in a state of perpetual malaise, having just returned home from a stay in America. Throughout his last day as an average South Korean citizen, friends and family keep the pressure of his Western sojourn on, almost as their way of teasing and tisk-tisking. He left the spoils of the spoiled for an army in the throes of battle? On top of this, he's leaving them, just shortly after his homecoming. Tisk-tisk or shame? It's hard to say.
Single-take conversations, ingeniously resourced compositions in cinematography, and everyone offering him a drink, with a clink and a "cheers!" out of obligation and with confused sadness and frustration - no matter their demeanor - make up the bulk of Before the Call's short feature duration. It's a classic "get in, get out" scenario, and it's done with maturity. Everything needed is up on the screen, and everything seen has room to breathe. An astonishing achievement in and of itself.
For a period, I struggled to find the right words for this review, mostly out of hesitation. My conclusion was clear, but I steered toward self-sabotage by waiting to begin typing. For Jinwoo, there is no waiting. There is no self-sabotage. There is no lack of clarity nor time for any of that. The right words, though? He doesn't quite have them. Are there any?
Against some initially mild impulses, I find myself smitten with Before the Call. The film is a cautious vision, allowing room for distance while questioning motive and sincerity. Beers, dinners, haircuts; rebirth or preparation for losing out on destiny? Or was this his destiny all along? Order amid chaos. There's nothing left to do but submit quiet goodbyes and accept the unknown. This was his choice, right? 4/5
Before the Call will screen and stream (in-person and online) as part of the 2026 SF IndieFest, from 2/5 to 2/15.