How to Use Guys with Secret Tips

Plot

For the past five years, Choi Bo-na (Lee Si-young) has been overworked and underpaid as a second assistant director for TV commercials. Sorely lacking social skills, self-confidence, fashion sense, and aesthetic polish, she is casually disregarded by her work colleagues and knows that her career is going nowhere. One night, she hits rock bottom. Stranded on a beach in the middle of nowhere after a grueling outdoor shoot, she comes across an eccentric middle-aged man selling inspirational videos. He urges her to buy his masterwork, "A Manual on How to Use Men," telling her that it will change her life and give her the skills she need to find success and happiness. She initially had doubts but buys the video eventually. After reluctantly following the step-by-step instructions of self-styled guru Dr. Swarski (Park Yeong-gyu), Bo-nas life takes a drastic turn. She begins to experience professional success and men start flocking to her (including top hallyu star, Lee Seung-jae (Oh Jung-se), who initially treated Bo-na with indifference).

Cast

Production

This was the feature directorial debut of Lee Won-suk, a graduate of the American Film Institute. Lee said the film was initially a black comedy, but during its seven-year pre-production, he made compromises in order to make the film more appealing commercially. Nevertheless he retained the satirical bent and issues he wanted to highlight, such as gender inequality, and the societal practice where shrewd people are more likely to succeed than those who simply work hard. Though classified as a romantic comedy, Lee called it more of a "fantasy," saying, "In the end, she gets everything she wanted. But that does not happen in real life no matter how earnestly people live their lives."

Lees background in advertising was also apparent in his incorporation of manga-like screen graphics and animation in the films backgrounds and visual patterns.

Reception

How to Use Guys with Secret Tips was released on February 14, 2013. The film produced strong word-of-mouth among viewers, though not enough to make it a hit in a month when it was sharing screens with box office behemoths The Berlin File, New World and Miracle in Cell No. 7.

Koreanfilm.org praised the films "great comic timing," the "charismatic" performances by its lead actors and its "multitude of gags that are genuinely funny." The review said it felt "fresh and new, but it is also simply a very well executed film. In a genre that looks easy, but is actually quite challenging, this is a significant accomplishment."

Twitch Film particularly noted the films "unique, vibrant and endlessly creative aesthetic," and director Lees "keen sense of style." It also said "one of the films great strengths is its excellent soundtrack, which runs the gamut of indie music, pop and club beats, not to mention Ravel."

In April 2013, the film won the Audience Award at the 15th Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy, and director Lee Won-suk also received the Golden Mulberry Award. In August 2013, it won the Bronze Prize for Best Asian Feature at the Fantasia Festival.