Lovers Vanished (2010)

In the emotional labyrinth of this independent Korean melodrama, akin to a nuanced Leaving Las Vegas (1995), we are introduced to the delicate connection between two souls who believed love had abandoned them forever. The male protagonist, a chef wrongfully incarcerated, deliberately contracts HIV from a fellow prisoner's needle, leveraging his illness for an early release. His mission is to unveil the true perpetrator behind his wife's murder. In contrast, our female lead is a former magician's assistant who, after a disastrous romance with her employer, retreats to the wind-battered coast of South Korea's Jeju island, where she operates a secluded restaurant. Their lives intersect when he flees prison and finds refuge at her restaurant at the behest of another inmate. She extends to him an employment opportunity as a chef, sparking an unexpected bond. Amidst the tranquil coastal backdrop and the glimmer of hope piercing their bleak existence, the promise of happiness is a forbidden fruit. A nationwide manhunt for the escaped prisoner is underway, and his impending mortality from AIDS looms ominously, casting a persistent shadow over their intertwined destinies.

Lovers Vanished is a drama movie featuring Kim Nam-gil and directed by Cho Chang-ho.

Lovers Vanished is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on KoreaOnDemand and Tubi TV and it's also available on Kocowa.

It is also possible to buy Lovers Vanished on Amazon Video.