Seok-go (Ryoo Seung-beom) is a quiet and seemingly unassuming maths teacher living alone in a Seoul apartment block. Deeply enamoured with his neighbour, Hwa-seon (Lee Yo-won), he visits the cafe where she works each lunchtime without fail - always ordering the same takeaway food - but, try as he might, his shyness repeatedly prevents him from connecting with her on an emotional level; managing only an almost embarrassed 'hello' and 'thank you' he walks away frustrated and unfulfilled on each occasion.
On hearing a commotion coming from Hwa-seon's apartment one evening, Seok-go knocks on her door to ask if she needs his assistance only to find that she has killed her ex-husband in a vicious struggle and is planning to hand herself in to the police.
Seok-go immediately suggests that, instead, he'll dispose of the body; help Hwa-seon to hide her crime and talk her through any subsequent police investigation.
However, before long questions begin to surface as to the true reasons behind his seemingly altruistic actions...

What would you be prepared to do for love? More than that, if someone told you they "did it for love" would you assume they meant love for someone or love from someone?
From the very moment we are first introduced to Seok-go as he awakens in bed hearing Hwa-seon talking to her niece outside her apartment, director Bang Eun-jin beautifully accents a link between the two main characters - a link initially only existing from Seok-go's point of view - and not only hints at his (too) deep feelings for a woman he barely knows but also foreshadows later revelations without directly stating their existence; thereby allowing for a feeling of hindsight when the true state of play begins to show.

In fact, scenes, narrative elements and character personalities having more to them than first meets the eye really is the order of the day throughout Perfect Number and in terms of Seok-go's persona we quickly learn that a simple maths teacher is far from what he is: For here we have an incredibly intelligent man whose analytical brain can seemingly plan for every variable, on the spot, in any given situation; a man who is utterly convinced that he can out-think anyone and everyone. As such, when he is brought face-to-face with the dead body lying on Hwa-seon's floor, he instantly sees the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, if you will: By helping Hwa-seon to hide the murder (and her part in it) he's sure he'll be seen to be acting out of love - hopefully making her fall in love with him, in the process - and by meticulously planning for every eventuality that a police investigation may bring he will, at the same time, resolutely prove his superior intelligence and his ability to outwit anyone without even breaking into a sweat.

Howe Gelb - A Thousand Kisses Deep -

Howe Gelb ’s rendition of is a prominent cover of the classic Leonard Cohen song, released in 2018 as a single and later included on his 2019 album, Gathered . Featuring a collaboration with long-time associate M. Ward , the track reimagines Cohen's somber meditation on mortality and love through Gelb’s signature "desert noir" and flamenco-inspired lens. Musical Style and Arrangement

Watch these performances and official releases to hear Howe Gelb's unique interpretation of this Leonard Cohen classic: Howe Gelb - A Thousand Kisses Deep feat. M. Ward YouTube · killlercherry A Thousand Kisses Deep YouTube · Howe Gelb - Topic A Thousand Kisses Deep YouTube · Howe Gelb - Topic If you'd like to dive deeper, I can look into:

How this cover compares to (like Judy Collins or Ann Wilson).

The song is a deep dive into the complexities of aging, defeat, and a "more encompassing form of love".

Critics have praised the cover for its ability to maintain the "gravitas and mystery" of the original while adding a unique, dusty Arizona atmosphere. It is frequently cited as a successful example of Gelb's collaborative spirit, as he brought in international guests like and Spanish producer Fernando Vacas to help shape the sound.

A of the Gathered album to see how it fits the overall narrative. Howe Gelb's Latest Is a Welcoming Call to Gather Around

: The track juxtaposes Gelb's deep, raspy baritone—which has been compared to Cohen's own—with the "breezy" and lighter vocals of M. Ward.

Howe Gelb ’s rendition of is a prominent cover of the classic Leonard Cohen song, released in 2018 as a single and later included on his 2019 album, Gathered . Featuring a collaboration with long-time associate M. Ward , the track reimagines Cohen's somber meditation on mortality and love through Gelb’s signature "desert noir" and flamenco-inspired lens. Musical Style and Arrangement

Watch these performances and official releases to hear Howe Gelb's unique interpretation of this Leonard Cohen classic: Howe Gelb - A Thousand Kisses Deep feat. M. Ward YouTube · killlercherry A Thousand Kisses Deep YouTube · Howe Gelb - Topic A Thousand Kisses Deep YouTube · Howe Gelb - Topic If you'd like to dive deeper, I can look into:

How this cover compares to (like Judy Collins or Ann Wilson).

The song is a deep dive into the complexities of aging, defeat, and a "more encompassing form of love".

Critics have praised the cover for its ability to maintain the "gravitas and mystery" of the original while adding a unique, dusty Arizona atmosphere. It is frequently cited as a successful example of Gelb's collaborative spirit, as he brought in international guests like and Spanish producer Fernando Vacas to help shape the sound.

A of the Gathered album to see how it fits the overall narrative. Howe Gelb's Latest Is a Welcoming Call to Gather Around

: The track juxtaposes Gelb's deep, raspy baritone—which has been compared to Cohen's own—with the "breezy" and lighter vocals of M. Ward.

DVD

The DVD edition reviewed here is the Korean (Region 3) Art Service Limited Edition First Press version. The film itself is provided as an anamorphic transfer with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and there are no image artifacts (and no ghosting) present.
The original Korean language soundtrack is provided as a choice of Dolby Digital 5.1 or Dolby 2.0 and both are well balanced throughout.
Excellent subtitles are provided throughout the main feature but English-speaking viewers should note that, as with many Korean DVD releases, there are no subtitles available on any of the extras.