Queerguru’s Ris Fatah reviews ‘MANOK’ : how a Korean lesbian had to re-invent herself when she reached middle-age

Manok (Yang Mal-bok) is a lesbian bar owner and has run the lively, colorful Lainbow Bar in Seoul, South Korea for twenty years. She’s strong, feisty, and not afraid to voice her opinions, which leads the middle-aged Manok to clash with some of her younger customers, who don’t spend as much money as she’d like, and who in turn think her bar is a little outdated. She feels the younger generation don’t appreciate the past struggles she’s had as a lesbian. Tensions gradually rise between her and her staff and customers, leading to a physical stand-off. This coincides with the death of her mother and the inheritance of her mother’s house in the countryside. Manok decides to close the bar, skip town, leave her long-term partner and start afresh in the small town she grew up in.

Once back in Iban-ri, her rural hometown, fashionably dressed Manok stands out amongst the local inhabitants and finds it hard to reintegrate into her old community. Her hot-blooded, loose cannon attitude doesn’t help, nor does the fact that her ex-husband Cheol-ju (Park Wan-Kyu) is the town chief. He’s still bitter about their break-up and sets out to create a hard time for Manok. There’s also an undercurrent of homophobia in the town’s residents, including from her own family. It’s sink or swim time for Manok. What can she do to create a good life for herself as an ageing lesbian in rural South Korea?

Director Yu-jin Lee has created a very entertaining study of small town South Korean queer life with Manok. Fun, vibrant sets abound, with great attention to detail. The film is also beautifully shot and features cute outfits. Serious messaging about ageism, homophobia and sexism is presented in an exuberant, humorous, often almost slapstick manner. The film is full of funny supporting characters, with an undercurrent of love in the right places. Mal-bok totally delivers as the bull-in-a-china-shop Manok wearing her heart on her sleeve. Wan-Kyu is excellent as the puffed-up town chief ex-husband, full of underserved self-importance. K-Pop singer Sung Jae-yun also shines as Jae-yeon the non-binary teenage child of Manok’s ex and his new wife, who connects with Manok. Manok highlights that every generation has to fight the same battles and that progress can’t be taken for granted. Don’t ever assume the battle has been won. A joyful, uplifting two hours.

 

 

Queerguru’s Contributing Editor Ris Fatah is a successful fashion/luxury business consultant  (when he can be bothered) who divides and wastes his time between London and Ibiza. He is a lover of all things queer, feminist, and human rights in general. @ris.fatah