84m2 is the latest work by director Kim Tae Joon - the person behind the success of Unlocked ( unlocked, 2023).
The story revolves around Woo Sung (Kang Ha Neul) - a young man who finally touches his dream of buying a private apartment in Seoul (Korea) after "losing" all his savings and borrowing money everywhere.
However, here, he has had to endure the haunting noise from surrounding apartments many times. To trace the origin of the unusual sounds, Woo Sung teams up with his upper-level neighbor Jin Ho (Seo Hyun Woo). Although Eun Hwa (Yum Hye Ran) - the resident representative tried to mediate, the atmosphere in the building became increasingly chaotic.
Released on July 18, the film 84m2 received mixed reviews about its content. Initially, the film brought viewers a tense, suffocating atmosphere, mixed with sympathy for the male lead - a hard-working, determined young man who works hard to pay off monthly loans after buying a house.
However, later on, the film is somewhat illogical when it overlooks the reason behind the noise that Woo Sung and the residents have to go through every day. Notably, at the end of the film, Woo Sung still returns to the loop of making money - paying off debts which is considered the peak of controversy.
However, 84m2 still has a bright spot when it brings metaphorical images of society, decentralizing rich and poor. In addition, Kang Ha Neul's acting shows versatility. Transforming into an increasingly sensitive and mentally depressed character due to the noise between floors, the actor made viewers sympathize.
Previously, in his first reading of the script, Kang Ha Neul also revealed that he deeply sympathized with Woo Sung, from the first line to the last line. The actor repeatedly asked himself, Have I played a character that was so depressed? when filming Woo Sung being pushed to the brink of despair.
In addition, the duo Seo Hyun Woo and Yum Hye Ran did their roles well, performing well with their juniors. Thanks to that, despite receiving mixed reviews, in its first week of release, 84m2 ranked 3rd on Netflixs non-English film chart with 6.4 million views. Currently, the film has risen to the top of the chart with 7.8 million views.
