Pavane Review
Director: Lee Jong-pil
Date Created: 2026-02-20 16:12
3.5
Pavane Review: Directed by Lee Jong-pil and adapted from Pavane for the Dead Princess. Starring Go Ah-sung as Mi-jeong, Moon Sang-min as Gyeong-rok, and Byun Yo-han as Yo-han alongside Lee Yi-dam, Han Yu-eun, Seo Yi-ra and others. 파반느 has a runtime of 1 hour and 53 minutes.
Pavane Review
Right from the start, the South Korean film Pavane has the feel of something that exists in a world that is slightly removed from reality. The narrative is centred on three lonely souls who are all employed at the same department store. Gyeong-rok is a young man who is overshadowed by his father and his own unclear ambitions. He takes up a parking lot job while pursuing a career in dance. Mi-jeong is a woman who toils away in the basement, making sure to keep a low profile. And then there is Yo-han, the charming and slightly eccentric friend who watches over everything and brings the other two closer together.
The romance between Gyeong-rok and Mi-jeong is understated. It develops through subtle glances, the pauses in between, and the mutual understanding of the two main characters as they struggle with feeling out of place with society’s idea of the perfect couple. The beauty of this movie Pavane, is that it gives their love time to grow, to sneak its way into the audience’s hearts, and to show the depth of their relationship through their very personal communication methods without requiring large demonstrations.
Mi-jeong is at the centre of the story. As the female protagonist who does not conform to the very unrealistic beauty standards still prevalent in modern society, she receives frequent criticism for her appearance throughout the film. I appreciate that the filmmakers do not take a conventional, Hollywood approach to “fixing” Mi-jeong’s issues through grandiose events or through some extensive makeover process that would give her a new sense of value.
Also Read: 56 Days Review: Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia’s Erotic Thriller Is Moody, Messy, and Overlong
What makes Mi-jeong the most beautiful character is her own inner strength. Go Ah-sung delivers an impressive performance of internal conflict and vulnerability that displays how intellectually and emotionally traumatised Mi-jeong is. The audience is allowed to experience her neuroses, fears, and the hope of being seen by another person.
Gyeong-rok, played by Moon Sang-min, is sweet with a bit of a rough edge. He is clearly in love, but he is also flawed and sometimes infuriatingly dense. This makes him feel very real and very human, not overly manufactured. His relationship with Mi-jeong is natural and not something that the film has forced between them, and this makes it linger in your mind.
Then, of course, there is Yo-han, who is perhaps the most complex figure in this film. He is a very social person but also a very lonely one, who acts as both a friend and a spectator. His perspective on the whole thing is what gives the story a slight touch of the surreal.
Sometimes this perspective is very interesting, but at other times it is almost as if his presence is what pulls the viewer away from the romance at the precise moment when it is beginning to find its groove. Whether this is the intention or simply a case of poor writing is difficult to say.
In terms of aesthetics, the Netflix movie Pavane has a very muted and almost vintage feel to it. The underground parking lot is more than just a setting; it is a symbol of the way in which these characters have chosen to live in the shadows rather than in the spotlight of society. The cinematography is simple and elegant, and the use of classical music to punctuate the film is a great success, lifting many scenes to new heights.
The movie stumbles a little in terms of the flow, particularly in the second half. It does drag a little too long, and some of the transitions between scenes are a little jarring. There are moments where the emotional impact is very real, but sometimes the transitions between these moments are a little rough. I found myself having moments of genuine engagement, and then moments where I felt strangely removed. It’s not a question of the story being lacking; it’s that the execution sometimes dulls the edge.
Netflix Pavane Review: Summing Up
In the end, I did feel a sense of being moved. There is a definite sincerity to the movie that is about love, insecurity, friendship, and longing. It’s about people who feel as though they do not deserve happiness who slowly come to realise that even fleeting love can change them in ways that last an entire lifetime. The movie is not about spectacle; it’s about the quiet pain of youth and the tentative hope that perhaps someone might choose you, even when the odds are against you.
Also Read: The Swedish Connection Review: Subtle Heroism in a Conventional War Drama
