‘Pavane’ (2026) Netflix Movie Review - Echoes Beneath the Neon Lights

Set against the backdrop of a Seoul department store and the underground parking lot, Pavane follows the plot of Mi-jung, played by Go Ah-sung, Yo-han, played by Byun Yo-han, and Gyeong-rok, played by Moon Sang-min. These people, at first glance, are people who are beaten down by life and naturally hesitant to let anyone inside their bubble. Mi-jung, for example, bears the scars of self-judgment and self-doubt. Yo-hand, on the other hand, exudes the charm of someone who mixes pain with humor. Gyeong-rok is a former dancer whose dreams are on hold and has now accepted life as it is. These people meet each other while working at a department store and form a bond.

From the beginning, you won’t realize that this is going to be a romantic film, but that is when director Lee throws a curveball at us. We see how they find love in the most unexpected ways in life. Mi-jung’s life changes with Gyeong-rok’s presence, while Yo-han’s life is also intertwined with these two.

First of all, the concept is nice. However, the execution falters. Yes, things are unexpected, but that also created confusion in the minds of viewers. As mentioned earlier, the lives of these three are connected. And that connection takes some time to be figured out in the latter half of the movie. That also creates a sense of stagnation, as we are just going in and around the same love plot again and again.

The character development is there, no doubt, but not at the levels one might expect it to be. We don’t see any life-changing personality change in them. This is also where the execution falters a lot.

While somewhere, I found the execution to be unhurried; however, it is also very slow. I wish the pacing were a bit faster, as we are already going back and forth with the plot at the same rate. So, as such, there is nothing great that you can get from this plot. There is a lot of scope in the plot, yet there is hardly any good execution of that.

Coming to performances, that's for sure a saving grace. The entire star cast has shown great performances right from the start to the end of the movie. For example, Mi-jung, played by Go Ah-sung, Yo-han, played by Byun Yo-han, and Gyeong-rok, played by Moon Sang-min, are characters that require a range of emotions to be displayed. That diverse range of emotions comes amazingly well in front of us by way of their acting.

The background score and all are also good. Every contributing factor supports well. However, nothing can make it the kind of movie that can leave a lasting impact, as the plot is faulty. It feels incomplete while watching, and that is the biggest issue. The plot had a lot of scope, and yet sadly, none of it has been executed. So all in all, there are many movies of a similar kind that you can watch. This might not live up to your expectations and can disappoint you.

Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times