Happy Ending 2023 Movie Review

『Discovering True Love Through Hidden Desires and Honest Communication』

🎥 Movie Overview

🎬 Title: Happy Ending (2023)
🌍 Country: 🇳🇱 Netherlands
🎞️ Genre: Romantic Comedy / Drama
🗓️ Release: Netflix
⏳ Runtime: Approximately 90 minutes
📢 Director: Joosje Duk
🖋️ Screenwriter: Joosje Duk
📺 Platform: Netflix

👩‍💼 Cast: Heite Jansen – Luna
Joy Delima – Eve

🧩 In-Depth Story Analysis (Spoilers)

💔 Catalyst for Self-Discovery

The meeting between Luna and Eve marks the start of Luna's journey to find sexual satisfaction and genuine intimacy that she lacked in her relationship with her boyfriend Mink. Eve serves both as the character who introduces fractures in Luna's current relationship and as a mirror reflecting Luna's inner self.

🍎 The 'Forbidden Realm' of Pleasure

Luna, frustrated and anxious from faking orgasms with Mink, proposes the extreme measure of a 'threesome.' In this exploration, Eve becomes the only person who can satisfy Luna's sexual desires.

• Immediate Liberation: Eve allows Luna to experience the genuine orgasm she had longed for. This moment empowers Luna beyond physical pleasure, granting her a new sense of agency over her body and desires.

• The Appeal of Honesty: As a climate activist, Eve freely expresses her beliefs. Her open and candid demeanor contrasts sharply with Luna's hidden vulnerabilities and lies in her relationship with Mink. Luna discovers through Eve the authentic energy of her true self that she had either lost or dared not express.

🌟 Lover vs. Role

The relationship between Luna and Eve deepens beyond mere sexual partnership but inherently carries imbalance.

• Emotional Complexity: Initially, Eve participates as a 'third party' in Luna and Mink's relationship, while Luna secretly meets Eve without Mink's knowledge. This indicates Luna seeking the emotional and sexual fulfillment she lacked with Mink.

• The Shadow of 'Unicorn Hunting': Luna and Mink sought Eve as an instrumental figure to resolve issues in their relationship. Even as Luna develops deep feelings for Eve, Eve's role remains focused on Luna's self-discovery. For Luna, Eve acts more as a 'catalyst' awakening her sexual identity than as a true lover.

🔄 Return to Self-Acceptance

Their relationship inevitably comes to an end when Luna realizes what she truly needs for herself.

• Confronting Truth: Eve leaves Luna with the lesson to be honest about her desires and apply that truth in her relationship with Mink. Luna realizes that while she loves Mink, she need not sacrifice herself to maintain the relationship.

• Eve's Role: Eve fulfills her role as the medium for Luna's growth and transformation. Through Eve, Luna gains the courage to acknowledge her sexual desires and communicate them openly with her partner. The parting with Eve is bittersweet but signals Luna's return to address the internal issue (communication gap with Mink) rather than seeking external alternatives.

💦 Necessary Transgression for Liberation

The relationship between Luna and Eve demonstrates that the 'Happy Ending' in the title refers not to traditional romantic closure but to the protagonist discovering her own identity and sexual fulfillment. Eve is pivotal in helping Luna escape the cycle of deception, establish her desires and identity, and ultimately rebuild her relationship with Mink on a foundation of truth.

🎯 Personal Rating (Subjective)

💕 Love Scene Level: ♥♥♥
⭐ Rating: ★★★