Spa Night Explained

Spa Night
Director:Andrew Ahn
Producer:David Ariniello
Giulia Caruso
Ki Jin Kim
Kelly Thomas
Starring:Joe Seo
Cinematography:Ki Jin Kim
Editing:Yannis Chalkiadakis
Studio:Nonetheless Productions
Extraordinary Renditions
Distributor:Strand Releasing
Runtime:93 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English
Korean
Spanish

Spa Night is a 2016 American drama film directed by Andrew Ahn and starring Joe Seo.[1] It was shown in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. At Sundance, Joe Seo won the Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Performance.

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.

Cast

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.[2] 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".[3]

Accolades

AwardDateCategoryRecipient(s)Result
Boston LGBT Film FestivalMarch 31–April 10, 2016Jury Prize for Best Narrative FeatureAndrew Ahn[4]
[5]
Florida Film Critics Circle AwardsDecember 23, 2016Best First FilmSpa Night[6]
[7]
GLAAD Media AwardsMay 6, 2017Outstanding Film - Limited Release[8]
February 25, 2017John Cassavetes AwardAndrew Ahn, David Ariniello, Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim, Kelly Thomas[9]
[10]
Someone to Watch AwardAndrew Ahn
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film FestivalMay 26–June 5, 2016Best First Feature[11]
[12]
Nashville Film FestivalApril 14–23, 2016New Directors Competition[13]
[14]
[15]
Outfest Los AngelesJuly 7–17, 2016Grand Jury Award for Outstanding PerformanceJoe Seo[16]
Philadelphia Film FestivalOctober 20–30, 2016Best First FeatureAndrew Ahn[17]
[18]
San Diego Asian Film FestivalNovember 3–12, 2016George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award[19]
January 21–31, 2016Special Jury Award for Breakthrough PerformanceJoe Seo[20]
[21]
Grand Jury Prize DramaticAndrew Ahn

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'Spa Night': Sundance Review . February 16, 2016 . Hollywood Reporter. January 26, 2016 .
  2. Web site: Spa Night (2016) . Rotten Tomatoes . April 27, 2022.
  3. Web site: Spa Night reviews . . . January 30, 2016.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. Web site: Festival Awards . . September 25, 2023 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925123445/https://pacarts.org/awards/ . dead.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.