Yourself and Yours (2016)

Yourself and Yours is Hong Sangsoo at his most playfully deceptive. The film stars Lee Youyoung (Minjung) and Kim Joohyuck (Youngsoo), a couple that breaks up over a rumor at the outset of the film. While Youngsoo wallows in regret afterwards, we experience Minjung as the woman who does not want to be recognized. Two men recognize her at a cafe, but she does not recognize them. Is she lying? Is she a twin, like she says? Is this an act? And who is the “real” Minjung?

The breakup scene is intimate and quietly powerful. In bed, Youngsoo (armed with this rumor and doubt) accuses Minjung of drinking and fighting with a man at a bar (she’s promised to stop drinking). She defends herself after his name—calling and even physical frustration. She’s fierce and stands up for herself. He’s looking to control her. She’s trying to be the bigger person. I love how the scene unfolds. Hong never cuts. He holds on them and their argument progresses and heats up especially when Youngsoo refuses to drop the rumor he’s heard. Her patience runs its course and she declares that she’s leaving. The scene is a masterclass in verbal and physical and emotional conflict. It resonates cause of the intimate setting: a couple’s bed. When she dresses to leave, she is obscured slightly by clothes on the left side of the frame. It works just perfectly visually the fact we don’t completely see her (Not yet).

What follows is what film critic and writer, Kristen Yoonsoo Kim, says is Minjung taking control of her narrative. Kwon Haehyo (Jaeyoung) recognizes her at a cafe. She says she doesn’t know any ‘Minjung.’ Then she reveals she’s actually a twin. The pauses she takes before presenting him with new tidbits of information and the investigative looks she gives him in this scene are magnetic. She performs the same act when Yu Junsang (Sangwon) recognizes her as well; a scene that is so funny since Sangwon is absolutely sure he’s right! Minjung is fiercely independent and free in her scenes. She certainly dictates her own journey even if that journey overwhelms her later.

In a sequence where both Jaeyoung and Sangwon implicitly fight for her attention, she’s physically seated in between them and it’s a scenario we or Minjung did not expect. She’s awkward and tense and looks away as they shout and argue. (Argentine film director Matias Pineiro recommends at any point to stop looking at the subtitles and watch the actors; this is something I found myself doing a lot of-replaying and rewatching scenes just for the action and the behavior of the characters. Study and examine their gestures and reactions and facial expressions, it enriches and enhances the viewing experience).

I marvel at Lee Youyoung’s performance in this film. She has these wonderful, expressive eyes. She plays coy and distant. In her drinking scene with Jaeyoung, she’s flirty, poetic (“I’m surrounded by wolves”), insecure, and maybe a bit too honest. But she absolutely radiates in this scene with a glow that’s recognizable on beautiful people on chilly, drunken Spring nights. I want to point to a brilliant moment with Minjung. She is up to her ankles in a sidewalk stream and Sangwon follows her as she paces, holding a piece of reeds in her hands. She’s completely in control and he’s hooked to her every movement as we are. They talk about going out to drink and drinking in moderation and she turns her back to him and faces the bright sun, her head high; she flips her hair behind her ears and shoulders and suddenly turns again to face him and asks “Shall we drink anyway?” It is so spontaneous and in the moment and in one physical action, we see who Minjung is or really wants to be. It’s a standout scene - I could watch Lee Youyoung over and over and over again in this scene!

Youngsoo: “Wait, Minjung.”

Minjung: “I’m not Minjung!”

Youngsoo: “Then who are you?”

Minjung: “Do you want to know?”

Youngsoo: “Of course.”

Minjung: “Why do you want to know?”

Youngsoo: “Because I love you. Tell me everything. All about you.”

Minjung: “You couldn’t handle it.”

This conversation above harkens back to Minjung dictating her journey. She won’t be controlled. She confronts him and urges him not to call her “dear.” She sets the terms and conditions of their reunion. Then she asks him (but she’s really telling) “Then, shall we have a drink?” almost as a challenge. I love how he sighs afterwards; it’s relief. Now he knows he must not mess up this second chance.

The film’s pace is brisk and speedy, while ironically characters take their time revealing their feelings, which is a rare treat in Cinema. Hong handles his long takes with mystery, precision, and playfulness. Minjung’s conversations are so damn fun to listen to, we joyfully feel like a fly on the wall.

Sangwon: “This is mysterious and fun.”

Minjung: “Then just enjoy it! Knowing is not as important as we think.”

The above lines are poignant because I found myself overthinking the film’s structure, very much like Youngsoo’s overthinking of his relationship. Youngsoo’s dream (losing Minjung) makes him realize not to overthink things, to let Minjung be and accept her as she is. The dream provides him with a clarity that is just as refreshing as the watermelons they have in bed. He even thanks her for being herself, which makes her giddy.

I never grow tired of the film’s many mysteries, its curious questions, its playful structure (Imaginary scenes within a dream? A Meta Sangsoo?), its poetic dialogue, its unexpected humor… It is immensely rewarding with repeated viewings.