'Inseparable Bros' shows water thicker than blood

A famous proverb says blood is thicker than water, but the upcoming Korean film “Inseparable Bros” shows that there is water that is thicker than blood somewhere around us.

The movie is a sentimental comedy-drama based on a true story about two disabled men ― Se-ha and Dong-goo. The movie begins with scenes of the two characters meeting each other and pictures of how these two became family.

Se-ha is smart and clever but paralyzed and isn't able to walk or move after an injury to his spinal cord. He has to sit in a wheelchair every day and must be spoon-fed and bathed by others.

He lost his mother at the age of 16 and was taken to an institution for disabled children in Seoul. There, he meets Dong-goo who has severe intellectual disabilities. Dong-goo is taller and stronger but has the mental age of a five-year-old.

Over 20 years, the two become bosom buddies and perfect partners. Fierce-tempered Se-ha opens his mind to Dong-goo and wins his heart. Se-ha works as the brain for Dong-goo, helping him buy things, while Dong-goo waits on Se-ha hand and foot.

Their sibling-like relationship is threatened after Dong-goo's mother suddenly appears and demands Se-ha “release” her son. Years ago, she left her son at a swimming pool.

She says the most important thing is that she is the mother and Dong-goo is the son. She believes that blood ties with her son are naturally much more powerful than the 20-year-long bond between Se-ha and Dong-goo.

But here, their connection is proven to be thicker than the mother-son blood ties. The movie reveals that Se-ha and Dong-goo feel like they are complete humans when they help each other enjoy everyday life together.

While living with his mother, Dong-goo realizes that everything he does is connected to Se-ha. He habitually gives spoons full of rice to his sister-in-law, and wakes up at midnight to check and prevent Se-ha from suffocating while sleeping.

“Family is bound together by blood, but we can become a family if we love and help each other,” director Yook Sang-hyo said of his fifth feature film. “This is the main idea of my movie.”

This message is clear from beginning to end. It follows the “brothers” daily routine with a humorous point of view, without focusing on stories of their miserable and disabled life.

The outstanding acting of the two leads ― Shin Ha-kyun and Lee Kwang-soo ― blends well with the mixture of humor and expressions of disability.

In particular, Shin has to convey Se-ha's feeling and intentions only through his words and facial expressions. His torso and the lower part of his body remain motionless. On the other hand, Dong-goo speaks far less than him but makes large and ludicrous gestures like a five-year-old boy.

At this point, the movie seems to successfully squeeze humorous relief out of the thin plot and not-so-wacky episodes, but audiences may easily lose interest due to the predictable ending.

It has to survive a tough competition with Marvel's latest “Avengers: Endgame,” which has already surpassed 1 million presold tickets a week before its scheduled premiere next week.

“Inseparable Bros” will hit local screens May 1. (Yonhap)