Young-Sun Jang | Private Lessons / 2019

a love poem

by Douglas Messerli

 

Young-Sun Jang (screenwriter and director) 보충수업 (Private Lessons) / 2019 [23 minutes]

 

Physical education student Jae-hyun (Kim Minsung) is enrolled in a poetry course taught by Yeong-il (Kim Sunghwan), which results in several difficulties for both of them. Jae-hyun is not at all interested in poetry and even though he’s kept late after class, shows no interest in completing his assignment, even falling to sleep under his teacher’s watchful eye.

     Yet he refuses to leave the class, and insists on attending all class meetings, Yeong-il finally agreeing to give him private lessons off campus. It quickly becomes apparent that in these “off-campus” meetings, although the student continues to show his disinterest in poetry, that their mentor-student relationship is quickly turning into something that is emotionally necessary.

      When, finally, the teacher begins to perceive that he is even incorporating his experiences with the boy into his poetry, he attempts to cut off their meetings, realizing he will have to fail his good-looking boy for his refusal to do any of the writing required for the class, particularly after he overhears the boy bragging to a fellow student that he is certain to get an A for his grade, even though it’s apparent that he has not done any of the work.

      But as we gradually have come to perceive, the student now controls the teacher and refuses to give up even his “private lessons,” actually writing a remarkable love poem to his teacher. Yeong-il gives the poem a grade of A, but still refuses to meet up with him again for “private lessons.”

      Yet Jae-hyun still seeks him out, determining that he now must become the teacher to the obviously closeted older man. Explaining what love truly is through a kiss, the student reveals that he is in love with his teacher, and without much hesitation, the poetry teacher realizes that he is obsessed with the handsome student, even though a relationship with the boy may cost him his job.

      In the end he cannot refuse the boy’s request to spend the night together.

     Although both of the figures are so likeable that almost any gay person would love to know that they have come to admit their love for one another, the teacher in his actions, finally, coming out, so to speak. But we also know how impossible such a relationship will be for the both of them, and given their social roles as student and teacher, just how wrong it is.

      As Letterboxd commentator Dan P summarizes the film:

 

“how to seduce a college professor:
1) audit his class, despite having zero interest in the subject
2) don't do any of the assigned work and constantly fall asleep in class
3) give him gifts and stare at him constantly
oh I should mention you must first [must] be incredibly hot.”

 

     Having been a college poetry professor, I can only suggest that it’s most certainly tempting. South Korean director Young-Sun Jang hints at what happens in such situations, the teacher being highly motivated to fall in love with a perfectly willing pupil; I know, having been just such a student—although I gladly did everything that was assigned as well.

 

Los Angeles, February 13, 2024

Reprinted from My Queer Cinema blog (February 2024).