In the late 1970s, during a time when survival was the top priority under the slogan "Let's live well." Disney+ Original Series 'Fine: Country Bumpkins' sheds light on the darkest and dampest corners of the era. Oh Kwan-seok (played by Ryu Seung-ryong), who barely manages a business in the countryside, is a character who always wears a hollow smile while dreaming of a turnaround in life. His nephew Oh Hee-dong (played by Yang Se-jong), who has been wandering through urban labour markets, is drawn to accompany his uncle, even though he cannot understand him. Meanwhile, a rumour reaches them that a trading ship carrying treasures from the Yuan Dynasty of China has sunk in the sea off Sinan. For Kwan-seok, this is the last chance to turn his life around. Armed only with recklessness, these so-called 'country bumpkins' head to the sea, each harbouring their own desires, despite lacking capital, connections, and equipment.
Mokpo, a Heterogeneous Space Entangled with Desire
Mokpo, where Kwan-seok and Hee-dong arrive, is not just a simple port city. With trot music from street stalls in front of the station, military vehicles, and unidentified cargo trucks all mixed together, it resembles a 'different planet' reeking of money. Kwan-seok pilgrimages through junk shops collecting pottery and navigation logs, while Hee-dong feels a vague excitement and anxiety in his uncle's serious gaze.
The financial lifeline of this massive gambling den is held by Yang Jeong-sook (played by Lim Soo-jung). Concealing sharp calculations behind a glamorous exterior, she laughs at Kwan-seok's rustic speech while reading the sincerity within. Cold in the face of money, she is tempted by the allure of dreaming of a new life in this gambling den and begins a precarious partnership with Kwan-seok.
The key to the treasure ship information is held by Mr. Song (played by Kim Jong-soo). Connecting the military, the powerful, and smugglers, he is a human black box oscillating between truth and exaggeration. With a single word from him, the thugs in the port and the military move. Beneath it all is thug Beol-gu (played by Hong Gi-jun), who instinctively senses the dangers of this game ruled by information and luck, while despising Hee-dong.
The arrival of Professor Kim (played by Kim Ui-sung), a con artist from Busan, complicates the game further. Skilled in forgery and fraud, he realises that underwater relics are commodities linked to international prices and seeks his own profit by navigating between various forces. His presence, continuing to place bets like a gambler at a poker table, heightens the tension.
Same Ship, Collision of Different Desires
The destination for all characters is an unmarked point in the sea off Sinan. Boarding the ship for various reasons such as debt repayment, buying a house in Seoul, or a simple desire for revenge against the powerful, they constantly suspect each other. The drama focuses more on the psychological battles between the characters than on the treasure recovery process. Their repeated coexistence and betrayal while holding each other's leashes resemble beasts cornered at the edge of a cliff.
The early part meticulously depicts how they ended up on the same boat and the process of deceiving each other. The family history of Kwan-seok and Hee-dong, Yang Jeong-sook's background, and the collusion between Mr. Song and the military reveal the shadows of modern Korean history beyond a simple crime drama. While the value of the relics is discussed above the surface, beneath it lies the sediment of failure, betrayal, and desire.
A Perfect Combination of Heist Drama and Period Drama
The virtue of 'Fine: Country Bumpkins' lies in its combination of the genre fun of heist dramas and the depth of period dramas. Amidst the waves of wealth disparity in the 1970s, the urgency of "We must survive at all costs" lends credibility to the characters' choices. In particular, Ryu Seung-ryong perfectly embodies the portrait of a collapsing head of the family, oscillating between charm and coldness. Yang Se-jong also delicately portrays the transformation from a simple young man to one awakened to desire, anchoring the drama.
Yang Jeong-sook, played by Lim Soo-jung, stands out as a unique presence in a male-centric narrative. Not merely a simple supporter, her role as a player holding the financial lifeline shakes the game, providing catharsis that transcends the temporal limitations of the 1970s.
Direction Capturing the Air of the 1970s Port
The direction excellently blends the rhythm of a crime drama with the rustic sentiment of the 1970s. Narrow alleys, the sound of cheap loudspeakers, and trucks loaded with coal sacks create a mise-en-scène that is a character in itself. The music, a mix of trot and folk, and the rustic costumes visually represent the transitional situation the characters find themselves in. Viewers feel an immersive experience as if they have entered the humid air of Mokpo port.
However, as the story progresses into the latter half, the increasing number of characters and narratives may come across as somewhat scattered. There is a tendency for the development of events to consume the inner descriptions of the protagonists before they are sufficiently built up, leaving a sense of regret. Nevertheless, the attempt to foreground the identity of 'country bumpkins' to differentiate from existing crime dramas is commendable.
Overall Review: A Period Drama of Desire and Solidarity
'Fine: Country Bumpkins' depicts the desperate survival instincts of deficient humans instead of flashy techniques or heroic narratives. While it may feel somewhat frustrating for those expecting a fast-paced, exhilarating development, it will be an attractive work for viewers who appreciate the acting ensemble of Ryu Seung-ryong, Yang Se-jong, and Lim Soo-jung, along with the unique texture of the 1970s. Ultimately, what weighs heavier than the treasures beneath the sea is the urgency of 'we must survive,' and the drama powerfully captures the journey of the country bumpkins as they endure that weight.
