‘Dream’ Is A Satisfying Underdog Story Starring IU And Park Seo-Jun

Soccer player Yoon Hong-dae may score many goals in the Korean film Dream, but his inability to control his temper threatens to derail his career. When he pummels a rude reporter, his agency offers him a way to clean up his image: coaching Korea’s Homeless World Cup players. It’s a team composed of homeless men with little experience, who have been enlisted to play a fast street-style soccer.

Hong-dae, played by Park Seo-jun, isn’t enthusiastic about the idea, but he needs money to pay the settlement for his mother’s embarrassing crimes and, even though he’s ready to end his soccer career and try acting, he still needs to improve his image.

The documentary filmmaker assigned to shoot the training process is Lee So-min, played by singer-actress Lee Ji-eun, also known as IU. So-min seems relentlessly bubbly and positive, but she’s quite pragmatic. She needs to get her project made and have it be a success. So, while she’s filming a documentary, she films it in a way that will generate the most drama and get the best viewership.

Everyone involved in this story needs something. Hong-dae needs to improve his image. So-min needs a career boost. The homeless men in Hong-dae’s team need so many things, particularly a chance to see themselves and have others see them in a positive light. While Hong-dae is not initially excited about coaching or even pretending he’s happy to be coaching, So-min convinces him to continue. The process requires a lot of bickering and the fast-paced banter between these two talented actors is pitch perfect.

Dream is a get-up-from-the-dust underdog film with a fresh new twist. It’s inevitable that Hong-dae will derive new motivation from coaching his inexperienced players, but what really makes the film memorable is the stories of the men who wind up in that homeless team. Pick them out for their stories, suggests filmmaker So-min, when the men go in for tryouts. That prompts Hong-dae to learn their stories but also to consider their potential.

Park is quite good at playing characters like the seemingly indifferent Hong-dae, characters who keep a distance because they’re defensive. Not able to connect with his feelings or play well with others, Hong-dae is ready for the kind of cheerleading encouragement that So-min provides. While his soccer players may never win a world cup, Hong-dae can teach them how to play like winners.

Dream checks all the boxes when it comes to an enjoyably engaging underdog story, while reminding the audience how close anyone can be to losing a home. The film might require some tissues, but its the kind of movie that makes viewers feel good when the final credits roll.

The story of Dream is based on the real-life Homeless World Cup, which advocates for the end of homelessness. The Homeless World Cup started in 2003 in Austria and the Korean team participated for the first time in 2010 Brazil Homeless World Cup, winning the Best Newcomer award. The film, directed by Lee Beyong-heon, will be screened at the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) on July 17 and 22.