Seok-go (Ryoo Seung-beom) is a quiet and seemingly unassuming maths teacher living alone in a Seoul apartment block. Deeply enamoured with his neighbour, Hwa-seon (Lee Yo-won), he visits the cafe where she works each lunchtime without fail - always ordering the same takeaway food - but, try as he might, his shyness repeatedly prevents him from connecting with her on an emotional level; managing only an almost embarrassed 'hello' and 'thank you' he walks away frustrated and unfulfilled on each occasion.
On hearing a commotion coming from Hwa-seon's apartment one evening, Seok-go knocks on her door to ask if she needs his assistance only to find that she has killed her ex-husband in a vicious struggle and is planning to hand herself in to the police.
Seok-go immediately suggests that, instead, he'll dispose of the body; help Hwa-seon to hide her crime and talk her through any subsequent police investigation.
However, before long questions begin to surface as to the true reasons behind his seemingly altruistic actions...

What would you be prepared to do for love? More than that, if someone told you they "did it for love" would you assume they meant love for someone or love from someone?
From the very moment we are first introduced to Seok-go as he awakens in bed hearing Hwa-seon talking to her niece outside her apartment, director Bang Eun-jin beautifully accents a link between the two main characters - a link initially only existing from Seok-go's point of view - and not only hints at his (too) deep feelings for a woman he barely knows but also foreshadows later revelations without directly stating their existence; thereby allowing for a feeling of hindsight when the true state of play begins to show.

In fact, scenes, narrative elements and character personalities having more to them than first meets the eye really is the order of the day throughout Perfect Number and in terms of Seok-go's persona we quickly learn that a simple maths teacher is far from what he is: For here we have an incredibly intelligent man whose analytical brain can seemingly plan for every variable, on the spot, in any given situation; a man who is utterly convinced that he can out-think anyone and everyone. As such, when he is brought face-to-face with the dead body lying on Hwa-seon's floor, he instantly sees the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, if you will: By helping Hwa-seon to hide the murder (and her part in it) he's sure he'll be seen to be acting out of love - hopefully making her fall in love with him, in the process - and by meticulously planning for every eventuality that a police investigation may bring he will, at the same time, resolutely prove his superior intelligence and his ability to outwit anyone without even breaking into a sweat.

Sam Smith In The Lonely Hour Album Zip -

While mostly a "tear-jerker," the album includes faster, gospel-influenced tracks like "Money On My Mind" and "Restart". Key Singles and Notable Tracks "Stay With Me":

A popular track highlighting the pain of betrayal and unrequited feelings, reaching the top five in both the UK and US. "Money On My Mind":

Unlike many pop projects that focus on happy love, this album explores the "lonely hours," providing a raw and honest account of heartbreak. Production and Musical Style Sam Smith In The Lonely Hour Album Zip

The second single, which offered a faster, more synth-heavy sound, showcasing Smith's vocal versatility. "Lay Me Down":

The album's poignant ballad about the pain of missing someone, later re-released as a duet with John Legend. Commercial Success and Legacy In the Lonely Hour While mostly a "tear-jerker," the album includes faster,

The deluxe edition featured additional songs like "La La La" and an acoustic version of "Latch". In August 2024, a 10th-anniversary edition was released, featuring the original 10 songs plus new tracks and collaborations with artists like Alicia Keys. Sam Smith- In the Lonely Hour (ALBUM REVIEW)

Released in May 2014, In the Lonely Hour is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Sam Smith, marking a transformative moment in modern pop soul. Described by Smith as a "diary from a lonely 21-year-old," the album was inspired by unrequited love for another man, a personal experience that was nonetheless universally accessible. The album established Smith as a master of the heartbreak ballad, leading to massive commercial success and critical recognition. Production and Musical Style The second single, which

was an immediate commercial success, reaching No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 on the US Billboard 200. It sold over 8.5 million copies worldwide.

Critics widely praised Smith's soulful voice, which often ranges from a tender falsetto to a powerful vibrato, conveying immense pain and pain-driven vulnerability. Key Producers:

Here is an informative overview of the album's themes, production, and impact. Core Themes: Heartbreak and Vulnerability The central narrative of In the Lonely Hour

While mostly a "tear-jerker," the album includes faster, gospel-influenced tracks like "Money On My Mind" and "Restart". Key Singles and Notable Tracks "Stay With Me":

A popular track highlighting the pain of betrayal and unrequited feelings, reaching the top five in both the UK and US. "Money On My Mind":

Unlike many pop projects that focus on happy love, this album explores the "lonely hours," providing a raw and honest account of heartbreak. Production and Musical Style

The second single, which offered a faster, more synth-heavy sound, showcasing Smith's vocal versatility. "Lay Me Down":

The album's poignant ballad about the pain of missing someone, later re-released as a duet with John Legend. Commercial Success and Legacy In the Lonely Hour

The deluxe edition featured additional songs like "La La La" and an acoustic version of "Latch". In August 2024, a 10th-anniversary edition was released, featuring the original 10 songs plus new tracks and collaborations with artists like Alicia Keys. Sam Smith- In the Lonely Hour (ALBUM REVIEW)

Released in May 2014, In the Lonely Hour is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Sam Smith, marking a transformative moment in modern pop soul. Described by Smith as a "diary from a lonely 21-year-old," the album was inspired by unrequited love for another man, a personal experience that was nonetheless universally accessible. The album established Smith as a master of the heartbreak ballad, leading to massive commercial success and critical recognition.

was an immediate commercial success, reaching No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 on the US Billboard 200. It sold over 8.5 million copies worldwide.

Critics widely praised Smith's soulful voice, which often ranges from a tender falsetto to a powerful vibrato, conveying immense pain and pain-driven vulnerability. Key Producers:

Here is an informative overview of the album's themes, production, and impact. Core Themes: Heartbreak and Vulnerability The central narrative of In the Lonely Hour

DVD

The DVD edition reviewed here is the Korean (Region 3) Art Service Limited Edition First Press version. The film itself is provided as an anamorphic transfer with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and there are no image artifacts (and no ghosting) present.
The original Korean language soundtrack is provided as a choice of Dolby Digital 5.1 or Dolby 2.0 and both are well balanced throughout.
Excellent subtitles are provided throughout the main feature but English-speaking viewers should note that, as with many Korean DVD releases, there are no subtitles available on any of the extras.