Priest and Monk Becomes One through Game of Football

`Summer in Boriul` is a movie that smacks of a country meal with small side dishes. Like the simple but fresh taste of the meal, it delivers smiles and warm feelings without a far-fetched story. It helps the audience experience the simple beauty of rural lives.

A young priest Kim (Cha In-pyo) was sent to a small Catholic church in a rural village called Boriul for his first year. Father Kim finds it hard to get along with the master nun (Jang Mi-hee) who is always strict about rules. On the same day, Hyung-woo (Gwak Jung-woo), a primary school student, visits the village with his father Woo-nam (Park Young-kyu) who became a Buddhist monk 6 years ago, for his summer holidays.

A group of kids in the village then asks Monk Woo-nam to become a coach for their football team after losing big to the rivals in the nearby town. Then, they have their first match with the orphan team at the church. The `temple team` wins the game and the `church team` this time asks Father Kim to become their coach to get even with the temple fellows. Their second match ends up as a draw and the two teams agree to form a united team to fight against the town team.

`Summer in Boriul` foregoes a dramatic turn or action sequels. Korean audience familiar with sexual innuendos or violence might find this movie a little uncharacteristic. It is a good movie with a happy ending. Still, there is something luring about this movie – sound and healthy energy people in the small village carry around.

Children kick the ball in the afternoon and watch TV together at night, realizing the images of rural landscapes. The confrontation between the monk and the priest comes with no malice.

The movie hardly lacks witty lines. Monk Woonam tells Father Kim who is trying to delay the game, ˝In our Buddhist teaching, they say mountains are mountains, water is water and go is go.˝ He also asks the master nun for some wine, ˝We ran out of drink, Can we have blood of Jesus?˝

Park Young-kyu, well known for his TV character `Mi-dal`s father,` leads the story by playing the untypical monk. Cha In-pyo, who have struggled with his earlier roles in `Dr. K` and `Iron Palms,` fail to give strong impression to the audience this time, too. Supporting actors like Yun Mun-shik and Choi Joo-bong also do their bits greatly.

Directed by Lee Min-young known for his works such as `A Hot Dog Day Afternoon` and `In Shala.` For all ages and set to be released on April 25.

Soo-Kyung Kim skkim@donga.com