Glove (Live Action Film)

Director: Kang Woo-suk

Actors: Jung Jae-young and Yoo Sun

U. S. Distributor: 5 Points Pictures, Right Stuf, C J Entertainment

U. S. Release date: July 23rd, 2013

Format: DVD / Feature Film / 144 minutes

Genre: Sports Drama, Slice of Life, Romance

Age Rating: 13+

Overal Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

Kim Sang-nam (Jung Jae-young, Moss and By The Book) is a hero on the pitcher’s mound, but thanks to his drunk and disorderly behavior off the field he now faces the prospect of a lifetime expulsion from Korea’s pro-baseball league. Desperate to salvage his public image, Sang-nam’s manager hauls him to the countryside to serve as the guest coach for the baseball team at a school for the hearing impaired.

Just 10 players, Chungju Sacred Heart’s team has challenges other high school baseball teams don’t. They can’t hear the crack of the bat, so it’s harder to follow the ball. Their ability to communicate on the field is limited, making teamwork more difficult. And they have to fight against others’ pity and perceptions just to be seen as competitors.

The students and their advisers are enthusiastic about entering their first national tournament, but Sang-nam is cynical about the team’s chances – until he sees glimpses of his younger self reflected in the boys as they play. Their shared love for the game may be enough to change the course of their lives…

Commentary:

Glove is based on a true story about a deaf high school who has a base ball team and they have plenty of difficulties even pulling a simple team together. This is truly and underdog story that even in the end you fell great with hopes for the future. The down and out ball player trying to get back in the limelight is a little tiring but Jung Jae-young does a very good job at playing the part. He manage to slide into being the caring coach easily even if it felt a little detached from time to time.

The basic bones of this film are very stereotypical and some what redundant. The key to this film is not the story on its own, but rather the acting that these boys provide. The entire group do a great job of giving us a taste of what these guys really go through to just feel like a normal group of high school boys. There is one problem they just aren’t normal boys and they all know it. On the surface the story of the star player rediscovering what it is that made the game great for him stands out, but in the end it is just window dressing for the discovery of desire and realization with the reality of defeat mixed in.

There were several times I wanted to cry for these boys and other times I wanted to slap the coach. I guess that the fact that those emotions came forward say a lot for any film and it is a reminder of how strong film making in Korea really is. Glove stands out for many reasons and most of all it is a reminder of how good Asian film making is and highlights their ability to get to the heart of the matter without it feeling heavy handed.

Overall Grade: B+

Even though I felt as though the story itself was very heartwarming there are plenty of sports films that use the serious underdog to give credence to the film. Glove uses those plot devices but somehow manages to add something a little more special by reminding us of our humanity. I almost wish the coach wasn’t a burned out superstar who need a reminder of his love of the game. I feel as though it just got in the way. With that said, I have to say that the acting, directing and production was top notch. Glove is a keeper and I hope that people get a chance to see this heart warming film. Just remember Love is in Base Ball (G LOVE).