Set in the world of competitive sports, Diva plunges on a mysterious story about friends involved in an accident.
Always at her best, Choi Lee-young (Shin Min Ah) hears that her friend Park Su-jin (Lee Yoo Young) would be retiring from diving. Unhappy with the news, Lee-young suggests that she and Su-jin partake in synchronized diving for the national team’s selection since they’ve been together for several years. Lee-young becomes firm on her decision even though there are doubts on the possible outcome.
In their dive together with the federation watching, Su-jin is praised for her performance recently. However, Lee-young overhears a conversation about Su-Jin meeting a diver’s ghost who was involved in doping before. With her suspicions, Lee-young warns Su-jin not to take pills on their drive. They then meet an accident wherein their car dives into the waters.
Lee-young wakes up after the accident, and she is warned about the possibilities of experiencing PTSD. The investigation about the incident proceeds, while Su-jin is still missing. Forgetting the memories during the accident, Lee-young uncovers things she did not know about Su-jin during the investigations.
Deteriorating Performance because of Hallucinations
Even though she still has a wound on her head, Lee-young continues with her preparations for the national team’s selection. Overexerting herself, she experiences hallucinations that bother and haunt her during her practices. Her suspicions and hallucinations become worse to the point that her performance deteriorates at the shoot and the national team’s selection.
After her disappointing so-so performance, Lee-young hallucinates harming the people around her. She is shaken to reality and becomes informed about the retrieval of Su-jin’s body. Lee-young rushes to see Su-jin’s body, and she cries to the floor, recalling all the facts of the accident.
Marcie Line watched Diva on Vivamax
Movie Rating: 
Diva Movie Peak Points
Consistent Cast Performance
The acting performance in this movie is impressive, and nobody was lacking in their parts. Lee Yoo Young is able to portray Su-jin’s character well as she is able to show how mysterious she is in the first half and regain her innocence by the end. Shin Min Ah’s acting has a wide range, and it is shown throughout the movie.
Her character Lee-young has a friendly personality, and she is positive at almost everything. After the accident, she changes and her performance as a diver gets gradually affected. With that, she becomes suspicious of everyone, and she even becomes stuck in her hallucinations of causing harm to others.
When she sees Su-jin’s dead body, her hallucinations melt, and she cries to the ground. All those emotions experienced by Lee-young, Shin Min Ah was able to successfully portray and her acting is convincing that her character is going all through those.
Peek to the Reality of Competitive Sports
As they are divers preparing for the national team’s selection, Lee-young and Su-jin may have their own worries about the outcome of their career. Su-jin’s character highlights the anxiety felt by athletes and their susceptibility to doping. Her character can become pitiful as her injury when she was young caused her fears of diving, which leads to her use of pills. Their characters show how pressure can negatively affect one’s performance to the point of overexertion.
Moreover, it opens a healthy discussion about friends who can become rivals. Lee-young and Su-jin are athletes of the same sport, which can inevitably make them be compared to each other. Pressure on doing well is one thing, but competition among other members of the team including your friend can add to one’s anxieties.
Healthy Reminder about Overexertion & Healing
A line can be drawn between doing one’s best and overexerting one’s self. Such can be realized in Lee-young and Su-jin’s characters. They are passionate about their sport, but it becomes unhealthy at some point as they neglect their injuries’ healing period.
Their story may be a reminder to viewers about the importance of taking a break and giving time for one’s self to heal.
Diva Movie Musings
Keen eyes and attention are needed in watching some scenes of the movie since there are times when Lee-young’s hallucinations can be very confusing. Her memories and hallucinations can be misunderstood as the happenings at present.
But even with those, the movie has successfully exuded a mysterious and thriller vibe through building suspense in several scenes. The sounds and lighting in the movie have a large contribution in building the tone of every scene.
Moreover, it has clearly conveyed an essential message to all viewers about one’s passion. Su-jin originally wanted to quit diving, but Lee-young keeps stopping her without even asking why.
With her injury, it is understandable how Su-jin became the character she is at present. Her period of healing could have helped her in regaining herself in the diving scene, but instead, she has overexerted herself all throughout.
Even Lee-young has overexerted herself as she proceeds on her practice with her wound. Both characters have missed the importance of giving one’s self to heal, so in turn, their performances as athletes are affected. Physical and psychological recuperation are so essential because disruption in the normal flow can bring adverse effects in one’s life.
In life, pressure and competition will always be present, and when it takes a toll on one’s self, asking for help shall always be an option. There is no shame in taking a break especially when it has come to a level where we can no longer handle, similar to Lee-young and Su-jin’s level of distress.
As we have seen, Diva has creatively imparted healthy messages, and this movie may be suggested to people who also enjoy sports and mystery-thrillers.
Diva is now available on Vivamax, Viu, and iQiyi for selected regions.
Photos: KOFIC | Finecut Co., Ltd.
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