Spa Night is a 2016 coming of age drama film directed by Andrew Ahn starring Joe Seo.
David is a first generation Korean-American young adult stuck between worlds. His traditional Korean parents don't speak any English and their struggling restaurant has closed. In order to help with expenses, David takes a job at an all-male spa. But it is there that David's budding sexuality starts to blossom, as he works at the spa and is tasked with watching for illicit activity between the men. David's parents want him to be successful in life, get into university and be the dutiful son, but with almost no money coming in along with David coming to terms with being gay, David starts to wonder just who he is and how to reconcile that with his family and expectations.
This film contains the following tropes:
- Coming of Age Story: David is trying to find the right balance of being himself while dealing with the stifling environment of his conservative family.
- Drowning My Sorrows: David's father Jin, drinks every day as he works odd jobs to keep the family afloat and to deal with being emasculated from not being able to provide for his family.
- Eating the Eye Candy: Part of David's job at the spa is patroling the rooms to kick out any men hooking up with each other, but this proves difficult as he is denying his own attraction to men. He eventually does hook-up with someone there.
- Education Mama: Both of David's parents want him to attend university to have a better future, even when they have no money to pay for SAT prep.
- Gay Cruising: Part of David's job at the spa is to break up any sexual encounters between the men that frequently cruise the spa. Which is especially hard for him as he gets more curious about being with another guy. Towards the end of the film, he gives in to temptation and has sex with a guy in the spa, though when he moves in for a kiss, the guy recoils.
- Gayngst: David wants to explore his sexuality but is bound by his family and cultural conservative values.
- LGBT Awakening: David had an inkling, but his time at the spa definitely made him realize that he is gay.
- No Ending: The film ends with not a lot of resolution. It does indicate David has chosen to not embrace his gay identity, at least for now as he puts his family first.
- Perpetual Poverty: It's indicated that David and his family have always struggled financially, even with their restaurant and once it closes, they are in near dire straits.
