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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

directed by Andrew Ahn
USA 2016

 

David (Joe Seo, GRIDIRON GANG), a closeted Korean-American teenager, has graduated from high school but has been working in his parents' (Youn Ho Cho and Haerry Kim) restaurant while his friends have gone onto college. His parents want him to go to college and - after an encounter with a more successful Korean restaurateur Mrs. Baek (Linda Han) - push him to apply to USC. No sooner do they start paying for intensive SAT courses for David than the restaurant goes under. Although David does feel strongly one way or the other about college, his mother has started working as a full-time waitress for Mrs. Baek (while maintaining that they sold their restaurant so her husband could retire early) and his father blows what little he makes on daily jobs on alcohol. When Mrs. Baek arranges for David to shadow her son Eddie (Tae Song) at USC for a couple days, the close proximity of other young men in the gym and at parties (along with games of gay chicken) make it even more difficult for David to deny his own desires. When they go to sober up at a men's spa, David sees a help wanted sign and takes the cash-paying job without his parents' knowledge. Discovering an outlet for his desires, first by watching the clandestine hookups, and then by enabling them, David risks the future his parents have envisaged for him - including a wife and children - to explore his own needs and desires.

Eric Cotenas

Poster

Theatrical Release: 24 January 2016 (USA)

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DVD Review: Strand Releasing - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the Review!

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Distribution

Strand Releasing

Region 1 - NTSC

Runtime 1:36:39
Video

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 7.69 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate

Audio English/Korean Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles English SDH, English (for Korean dialogue), none
Features Release Information:
Studio: Strand Releasing

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
� Interview with director Andrew Ahn and actor Joe Seo (16:9; 19:12)
� Deleted/Extended Scenes (16:9; 9:21)
� Joe Seo's Audition Tape (16:9; 5:32)
� Alternate Trailer (16:9; 1:36)
� Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 1:42)
� Previews

DVD Release Date: December 6th, 2016
Amaray

Chapters 8

 

 

 

Comments

Strand's dual-layer, high-bitrate DVD milks the HD master for all it's worth in SD given the predominately dark and low-lit settings that rely on natural light, back-lighting, or harsh overhead light. The Dolby Digital 5.1 track uses the surrounds for atmospheric sounds with even some day exteriors more front oriented and mixed low to reflect the protagonist's alienation. English SDH subtitles are available for both Korean and English dialogue while a second subtitle track translates only the Korean dialogue. Extras include an interview with the director and star in which Ahn discusses the Korean spa as a traditional family space, hearing about gay hookups in the spa, and how the story expanded to say something about the immigrant experience. Seo discusses his training and the challenges of the role (an audition tape for him is also included). The deleted/alternate scenes are interesting, including a subplot that reveals that he has been posting the mirror selfies of his torso taken throughout the film to his own fitness blog and is surprised to learn that some have been retweeted to a blog about sexy guys. An alternate ending expands the final scene to suggest he has either embraced tradition or tried to maintain some of it.

  - Eric Cotenas

 


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DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

 

 

 

Distribution

Strand Releasing

Region 1 - NTSC

 




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