Spa Night Explained

Spa Night
Director:Andrew Ahn
Cinematography:Ki Jin Kim
Editing:Yannis Chalkiadakis
Distributor:Strand Releasing
Runtime:93 minutes[1]
Country:United States
Gross:$40,294[2]

Spa Night is a 2016 American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Andrew Ahn (in his feature directorial debut). It stars Joe Seo, Haerry Kim, and Youn Ho Cho. It centers on a closeted Korean-American teenager who, living with his financially struggling immigrant parents, chances upon a secret cruising spot when he takes a job at an all-male spa.

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2016, where Seo won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Performance. It was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on August 19, 2016, by Strand Releasing. It received positive reviews from critics, and won the John Cassavetes Award at the 32nd Independent Spirit Awards.

Plot

David, an 18-year-old living in Koreatown, Los Angeles becomes an employee at a spa to help his financially struggling parents. He soon discovers illicit gay sex between the customers, which forces him to consider his own sexuality.

While this has been described as a coming out story, the focus is on the internal world of David, and his deep struggles and uncertainty, as a teenager, about how to be a good son but how to also be himself in what is a conservative family and rigid community.

Reception

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 96%, based on 25 reviews, with an average rating of 6.80/10.[3] The site’s critics consensus reads, "In depicting one man's sexual awakening, Spa Night explores the tension between tradition and individuality with tenderness and compassion." On Metacritic the film has a score of 76 out of 100 score, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[4]

Accolades

AwardDateCategoryRecipient(s)Result
Boston LGBT Film FestivalMarch 31–April 10, 2016Jury Prize for Best Narrative FeatureAndrew Ahn[5]
[6]
Florida Film Critics Circle AwardsDecember 23, 2016Best First FilmSpa Night[7]
[8]
GLAAD Media AwardsMay 6, 2017Outstanding Film - Limited Release[9]
February 25, 2017John Cassavetes AwardAndrew Ahn, David Ariniello, Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim, Kelly Thomas[10]
[11]
Someone to Watch AwardAndrew Ahn
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film FestivalMay 26–June 5, 2016Best First Feature[12]
[13]
Nashville Film FestivalApril 14–23, 2016New Directors Competition[14]
[15]
[16]
Outfest Los AngelesJuly 7–17, 2016Grand Jury Award for Outstanding PerformanceJoe Seo[17]
Philadelphia Film FestivalOctober 20–30, 2016Best First FeatureAndrew Ahn[18]
[19]
San Diego Asian Film FestivalNovember 3–12, 2016George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award[20]
January 21–31, 2016Special Jury Award for Breakthrough PerformanceJoe Seo[21]
[22]
Grand Jury Prize DramaticAndrew Ahn

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SPA NIGHT. Strand Releasing. November 27, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240701044549/https://strandreleasing.com/films/spa-night/. July 1, 2024. live.
  2. Spa-Night. Spa Night. November 27, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20221127062907/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Spa-Night/. November 27, 2022. live.
  3. Web site: Spa Night (2016) . Rotten Tomatoes . April 27, 2022.
  4. Web site: Spa Night reviews . . . January 30, 2016.
  5. News: Spa Night . Taiwan International Queer Film Festival . September 25, 2023 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925135227/https://en.tiqff.com/films/2016/%E5%8A%87%E7%84%A6%E4%BA%BA%E7%94%9F/spa-night . live.
  6. Web site: 2016 Jury Award Winners! . James . Nadeau . Boston LGBT Film Festival . April 17, 2016 . May 20, 2016 . May 20, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160520145545/http://www.wickedqueer.org/2016-jury-award-winners/ . dead.
  7. Web site: 'Moonlight' Leads 2016 Florida Film Critics Awards Nominations . Florida Film Critics . December 20, 2016 . September 25, 2023 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925132957/http://www.floridafilmcritics.com/2016/12/20/moonlight-leads-2016-florida-film-critics-awards-nominations/ . live.
  8. Web site: 2016 Ffcc Award Winners . Hans . Morgenstern . Florida Film Critics Circle . December 23, 2016 . September 25, 2023 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925132950/http://www.floridafilmcritics.com/2016/12/23/2016-ffcc-award-winners/ . live.
  9. News: Knapp . JD . 28th GLAAD Media Awards: Complete List of Winners . Variety . May 6, 2017 . September 25, 2023 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925132644/https://variety.com/2017/film/news/glaad-media-awards-winners-list-1202410699/ . live.
  10. Web site: 2017 Independent Spirit Awards: Full Winners List . Earl . William . February 25, 2017 . . September 25, 2023 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925131850/https://www.indiewire.com/awards/industry/2017-independent-spirit-awards-winners-list-1201786911/ . live.
  11. Web site: 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards Winners Announced! . Gavieres . Jayna . February 25, 2017 . . September 25, 2023 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925132141/https://www.filmindependent.org/blog/2017-film-independent-spirit-awards-winners-announced/ . live.
  12. Web site: Spa Night . Toronto International Film Festival . April 26, 2023 . April 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426080118/https://tiff.net/events/spa-night . live.
  13. Web site: Festival Awards . Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival . April 3, 2019 . April 3, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190403023017/http://www.insideout.ca/about-us/festival-awards . dead.
  14. Web site: 2016 Nashville Film Festival . nashvillefilmfestival.org . September 25, 2023 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925120843/https://nashvillefilmfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2016-NashFilm-Program-Guide.pdf . live.
  15. Web site: Nashville Film Festival Announces Features in Competition . Mackenzie . Robert . Nashville Film Festival . August 2, 2016 . August 2, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160802133928/https://nashvillefilmfestival.org/6779-2/ . dead.
  16. Web site: 2016 Feature Award Winners . Nashville Film Festival . April 22, 2016 . June 24, 2016 . June 24, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160624040026/https://nashvillefilmfestival.org/news/2016-feature-award-winners/ . dead.
  17. News: Kilday . Gregg . Outfest Award Winners Revealed as Andrew Ahn’s ‘Spa Night’ Takes Grand Jury Prize . September 25, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter . July 17, 2016 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925121950/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/outfest-2016-winners-list-911839/ . live.
  18. News: Cummings . Sinead . October 5, 2016 . Check out the full lineup for the 25th Philadelphia Film Festival . Philly Voice . September 25, 2023 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925122811/https://www.phillyvoice.com/25th-philadelphia-film-festival/ . live.
  19. Web site: PFF25 Program Guide . Philadelphia Film Festival . September 25, 2023 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925122807/https://filmadelphia.org/wp-content/uploads/PFF25-Program-Guide.pdf . live.
  20. Web site: Festival Awards . . September 25, 2023 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925123445/https://pacarts.org/awards/ . dead.
  21. Web site: Sundance: The Birth of a Nation Sweeps Top Prizes . Justin . Chang . Variety . January 31, 2016 . September 25, 2023 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925123902/https://variety.com/2016/film/festivals/sundance-film-festival-awards-1201693027/ . live.
  22. Web site: Sundance Institute Announces Films In Competition and NEXT for 2016 Sundance Film Festival . Sundance Film Festival . December 2, 2015 . September 25, 2023 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925125554/https://www.sundance.org/blogs/news/competition-and-next-films-announced-for-2016-festival/ . live.

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