By Woo Jae-yeon
SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) — In the poignant fantasy drama film “Number One,” Ha-min (Choi Woo-shik) faces a surreal predicament: he awakens to a chilling new ability – a glowing number appears before his eyes, diminishing with each meal prepared by his mother, Eun-sil (Jang Hye-jin).
The phenomenon begins during a tearful meal after his older brother’s funeral. Overwhelmed by grief, Ha-min initially lashes out at Eun-sil for urging him to eat. His raw emotion escalates into blame, accusing her of insisting his brother stay for breakfast that fateful morning, suggesting that had she not, he might have avoided the tragic accident.
Subsequently, his deceased father appears in a dream, delivering a somber warning: the number represents the remaining meals Eun-sil will cook for Ha-min before her passing.
Eun-sil (Jang Hye-jin) and Ha-min (Choi Woo-shik) argue in this still from “Number One,” provided by By4M Studio. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Driven by the desire to save his mother, Ha-min desperately avoids her cooking, concocting flimsy excuses and secretly discarding his lunch boxes. He eventually leaves his hometown of Busan, a southeastern port city, for a job in Seoul. The heartbreaking irony is that he must distance himself from his mother to prolong her life.
Oblivious to the reason behind her son’s avoidance, Eun-sil travels to Seoul, laden with boxes of banchan, or Korean side dishes, only to be met with Ha-min’s consistent rejections.
Directed by Kim Tae-yong (“Set Me Free”), “Number One” offers a quiet and heartfelt exploration of family, loss, and the preciousness of everyday moments. The film is adapted from Sora Uwano’s Japanese novel, “The Number of Times You Can Eat Your Mother’s Cooking is 328,” delving into the universal themes of maternal love, familial connections, and the importance of cherishing the present.
Ha-min (Choi Woo-shik) cooks in this still from “Number One,” provided by By4M Studio. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Kim Tae-yong previously directed the critically acclaimed independent film “Set Me Free” (2014), earning him the Best New Director award at the 36th Blue Dragon Film Awards and catapulting Choi Woo-shik to leading man status.
“Number One,” marking their reunion after a decade, tackles difficult themes – death’s inevitability and life’s fleeting nature – with a surprisingly optimistic approach.
Choi Woo-shik and Jang Hye-jin, reuniting as mother and son after their roles in the Oscar-winning “Parasite,” deliver powerful performances, deepening their on-screen relationship with profound emotional resonance.
Jang Hye-jin, a Busan native, seamlessly embodies her character, injecting the city’s vibrant spirit and distinctive dialect, adding layers of authenticity to the film.
The film’s universal narrative is sure to resonate with audiences, evoking memories of their own mothers and the precious, fleeting ordinary moments they still have to savor. It serves as a poignant reminder that these moments are finite and deeply valuable.
Reinforcing its central message to the end, “Number One” concludes with heartwarming family photos celebrating life’s simple pleasures, prompting a reflective question: how many more meals remain to share with your parents?
**”Number One,” starring Choi Woo-shik and Jang Hye-jin, is scheduled for release next Wednesday.**
This still image provided by By4M Studio shows Jang Hye-jin (R) and Choi Woo-shik playing a mother-son duo again in “Number One,” after the Oscar-winning “Parasite.” (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
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