Wikipedia

Spa Night

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.

Spa Night
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAndrew Ahn
Written byAndrew Ahn
Produced by
  • David Ariniello
  • Giulia Caruso
  • Ki Jin Kim
  • Kelly Thomas
Starring
CinematographyKi Jin Kim
Edited byYannis Chalkiadakis
Production
companies
  • Nonetheless Productions
  • Extraordinary Renditions
  • First Birthday
Distributed byStrand Releasing
Release dates
  • January 24, 2016 (2016-01-24) (Sundance)
  • August 19, 2016 (2016-08-19) (United States)
Running time
93 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
Languages
  • Korean
  • English
Box office$40,294[2]

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

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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

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  • Joe Seo as David Cho
  • Haerry Kim as Soyoung
  • Youn Ho Cho as Jin
  • Tae Song as Eddie Baek
  • Ho Young Chung as Spa Manager
  • Linda Han as Mrs. Baek
  • Eric Jeong as Peter
  • Janice Pak as Stella
  • Angie Kim as Esther Kang
  • Kahyun Kim as Grace
  • Sun Park as Mrs. Kim
  • Chris Yejin as Korean Counter Woman
  • Yong Kim as Academy Director
  • Esteban Andres Cruz as Boyish Mexican Man
  • David Pevsner as Fit Man
  • Jose A. Solorio as Luis

Reception

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Critical response

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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."[3] On Metacritic the film has a score of 76 out of 100 score, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[4]

Accolades

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Award Date Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Boston LGBT Film Festival March 31–April 10, 2016 Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature Andrew Ahn Won [5]
[6]
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards December 23, 2016 Best First Film Spa Night Nominated [7]
[8]
GLAAD Media Awards May 6, 2017 Outstanding Film - Limited Release Nominated [9]
Independent Spirit Awards February 25, 2017 John Cassavetes Award Andrew Ahn, David Ariniello, Giulia Caruso, Ki Jin Kim, Kelly Thomas Won [10]
[11]
Someone to Watch Award Andrew Ahn Nominated
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival May 26–June 5, 2016 Best First Feature Won [12]
[13]
Nashville Film Festival April 14–23, 2016 New Directors Competition Nominated [14]
[15]
[16]
Outfest Los Angeles July 7–17, 2016 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Performance Joe Seo Won [17]
Philadelphia Film Festival October 20–30, 2016 Best First Feature Andrew Ahn Nominated [18]
[19]
San Diego Asian Film Festival November 3–12, 2016 George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award Won [20]
Sundance Film Festival January 21–31, 2016 Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Performance Joe Seo Won [21]
[22]
Grand Jury Prize Dramatic Andrew Ahn Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "SPA NIGHT". Strand Releasing. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "Spa Night". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Spa Night (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  4. ^ "Spa Night reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  5. ^ "Spa Night". Taiwan International Queer Film Festival. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  6. ^ Nadeau, James (April 17, 2016). "2016 Jury Award Winners!". Boston LGBT Film Festival. Archived from the original on May 20, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  7. ^ "'Moonlight' Leads 2016 Florida Film Critics Awards Nominations". Florida Film Critics. December 20, 2016. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  8. ^ Morgenstern, Hans (December 23, 2016). "2016 Ffcc Award Winners". Florida Film Critics Circle. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  9. ^ Knapp, JD (May 6, 2017). "28th GLAAD Media Awards: Complete List of Winners". Variety. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  10. ^ Earl, William (February 25, 2017). "2017 Independent Spirit Awards: Full Winners List". IndieWire. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  11. ^ Gavieres, Jayna (February 25, 2017). "2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards Winners Announced!". Film Independent. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  12. ^ "Spa Night". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  13. ^ "Festival Awards". Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  14. ^ "2016 Nashville Film Festival" (PDF). nashvillefilmfestival.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  15. ^ Robert, Mackenzie. "Nashville Film Festival Announces Features in Competition". Nashville Film Festival. Archived from the original on August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  16. ^ "2016 Feature Award Winners". Nashville Film Festival. April 22, 2016. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  17. ^ Kilday, Gregg (July 17, 2016). "Outfest Award Winners Revealed as Andrew Ahn's 'Spa Night' Takes Grand Jury Prize". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  18. ^ Cummings, Sinead (October 5, 2016). "Check out the full lineup for the 25th Philadelphia Film Festival". Philly Voice. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  19. ^ "PFF25 Program Guide" (PDF). Philadelphia Film Festival. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  20. ^ "Festival Awards". Pac Arts. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  21. ^ Chang, Justin (January 31, 2016). "Sundance: The Birth of a Nation Sweeps Top Prizes". Variety. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  22. ^ "Sundance Institute Announces Films In Competition and NEXT for 2016 Sundance Film Festival". Sundance Film Festival. December 2, 2015. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
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