His characters and situations feel painfully accurate all throughout the movie, and I would imagine even more so for Korean-Americans. The truth is David's sense of insecurity and strong desire to live up to his parents is relatable to anyone, so this movie encapsulates what director Ang Lee calls 'Universality in the culturally specific.' 'Spa Night' director Andrew Ahn aims for ultimate authenticity and hits his mark. The film is much more about the unique and loving relationship David has with his parents, which is why the film flourishes. Joe Seo plays David, an only child to two Korean immigrants who are struggling to make ends meet as he prepares to apply to college and live up to his parents wishes. 'Spa Night' is billed as being a movie about a Korean teenager discovering his sexuality at the titular Koreatown spas, but it is actually a broader story of being a first-generation Korean- American and the trials that come with it. And yet, there are so many untold stories to be discovered in L.A.: here is one of them. Considering how many festival attendees arrive from Los Angeles, it is rare to find a movie in the competition that is entirely based there, in large part due to the emphasis on finding new voices of cinema from elsewhere.
