‘Spa Night’ an assured exploration of gay sexuality in Koreatown

David Cho is 18 and lives with his parents in Los Angeles’ bustling Koreatown neighborhood, a place where Korean immigrants, such as his parents, can live, work and worship without needing to speak English.

Dad is an alcoholic and has just lost the family restaurant, Mom has to take a job at another restaurant to make ends meet, and David (Joe Seo) has to pick a college.

Writer-director Andrew Ahn has made a confident, assured, low-key debut that’s a textbook example of how to make a compelling small-budget movie.

Ahn chooses to shoot in a widescreen aspect ratio, which makes the film look bigger.

“Spa Night” is a very well-made movie.

Another aspect of Koreatown life is the bathhouses — David’s parents go to these spas, and David goes there with a friend and begins to gain an understanding of the furtive glances and coded gestures that help gay men connect.

Ahn tastefully hints at pleasures experienced amid the steam, but you wouldn’t call the atmosphere steamy; more like repressive, which fits David well.