Initially accomplished and deftly realised, The Silenced sadly soon becomes a victim of its own early promise. While the mystery at the film’s core has worked well enough as a theme in ‘B’ action movies and sci-fi TV shows, the praiseworthy aspects of The Silenced ultimately deserve a far more original and unpredictable outcome… [Read More]
Category: Film reviews and comment (page 13)
Sheffield conference report – Comfort Women: Listening To Their Voices
Short of bringing some of the surviving halmonis to the UK in person, it is difficult to imagine how the organisers of this weekend’s gathering in Sheffield could have assembled a better line-up of people to discuss the Comfort Women issue. We had Byun Young-joo, director of the trilogy of documentaries focusing on the Korean … [Read More]
2015 Travel Diary day 1: Arrivals — an evening in Hongdae
Myeongdong, Seoul, 29 May. One flight is much like the next, the only differences being the food and in-flight entertainment. Asiana did a very acceptable bibimbap on the way out and, more ambitiously, a ssambap on the way back. Their tinned makgeolli, which I sampled on the return leg, is not to be recommended. Maybe … [Read More]
Awaiting (민우씨 오는 날, 2014) review: love, memory and national division
Set in the context of families divided by the Korean War, Kang Je-gyu’s short ‘Awaiting’ is a touching, affecting story of aging, separation and yearning within a life put on hold for love. At just 26 minutes in duration, it is easily as worthy of attention, discussion and indeed acclaim as any feature-length drama. [Read More]
Cart (카트, 2014) review: a Single Spark for the 21st century
While it would be difficult for any film on the subject of workers’ rights and labour laws to come even close to the importance of 1995’s ‘A Single Spark’, with ‘Cart’ Boo Ji-young nonetheless successfully combines an insightful story of workplace injustices with a tale of female empowerment that is both human and humane. [Read More]
Han Gong-ju (한공주, 2013) review: a heartbreaking critique of societal apathy
While centred on the victimisation and abuse of a schoolgirl and featuring a number of elements often seen in school-based narratives, ‘Han Gong-ju’ has far more in common with insightful dramas dissecting societal attitudes, persecutions, misperceptions and assumptions. Exemplary in realisation, there is a great deal more to ‘Han Gong-ju’ than its school-centric setting might imply. [Read More]
MJ (dir Kim Hee-jin, 2013) review: small moments, lasting change
Beautifully understated in its narrative realisation, ‘MJ’ takes a seemingly inconsequential, almost passing moment and deftly details the part it plays in changing the entire life of a young woman for the better. Though just 22 minutes in duration, MJ’s warmth and uplifting nature becomes ever more noticeable (and indeed welcome) as the story unfolds. [Read More]
The Pirates (해적: 바다로 간 산적, 2014) review: blockbuster spectacle on the high seas
Lee Seok-hoon’s nautical adventure film follows rival pirates, bandits and soldiers chasing a royal seal swallowed by a whale. It’s a big budget, enjoyable romp but there are numerous elements that are less accomplished than others and ultimately the lingering thought is just how easily the film could have been so much better. [Read More]
Broken (방황하는 칼날, 2014) review: vengeance and a search for closure
While on a cursory glance ‘Broken’ would appear to be yet another example of the Korean revenge thriller, take a closer look and you will find it to be a detailing of one man’s search for closure and a way to bring an end to heart-wrenching pain far more than any pursuit of vigilante justice. [Read More]
I am Trash (나는 쓰레기다, 2014) review: when family becomes filth
I am Trash is as hard-hitting and shocking as almost any Korean film in recent memory but its importance cannot be overstated; and while its character outcome could never be condoned in reality, its ultimate statement loudly screams of severe punishment sorely being needed in society for extreme sexual crimes. [Read More]
Innocent Thing (가시, 2014) review: innocence, obsession and consequence
Innocent Thing follows a married teacher drawn into a dangerous relationship with a determined student. While somewhat marred by a deliberate, and noticeable, withholding of information, it still manages to stand as an engaging drama/thriller; a story of love, obsession and revenge the conclusion of which greatly strengthens the entire preceding narrative. [Read More]
Juvenile Offender (범죄소년, 2012) review: gritty social commentary meets romantic melodrama
‘Juvenile Offender’ is both a depiction of disaffected youth focused on those who for one reason or another find themselves on the very edge of ‘normal’ society; and also an almost archetypal romantic melodrama narrative. As such, it is ultimately as warm, caring, affectionate and affecting as it is gritty, hard-hitting and socially aware. [Read More]
Let’s Dance (자, 이제 댄스타임, 2013) review: examining South Korea’s abortion debate
Let’s Dance combines historical information, footage from legal proceeding, real life first-person interviews and acted content to provide an insightful documentary on the ongoing debate relating to the legality of, and attitudes to, abortion in South Korea. The poignant and often traumatic individual stories of the female interviewees will stay with you. [Read More]
Miss Granny (수상한 그녀, 2014) review: youth reclaimed, manners forgotten
While ‘Miss Granny’ is light-hearted entertainment at its core, it nonetheless contains aspects inherent to classic Korean comedies over the years and elements that speak of a number of hugely influential films; all adding up to an intelligently written, genuinely funny film that stands as an example of quality Korean comedy at its very best. [Read More]
Festival film review: Manshin – Ten Thousand Spirits
What is it that makes Park Chan-kyong’s biopic of Korea’s national shaman so compelling on so many levels? Right from the start, the narrative grips you. We meet Kim Geum-hwa, the subject of the movie, praying for the success of the film. She also prays for the health of the film crew, and asks the … [Read More]
Revivre (화장, 2014) review: between duty and desire
Im Kwon-taek’s Revivre is a powerful story of a man, whose wife is terminally ill, who begins to fantasise about a sexual relationship with a much younger woman. Deftly contrasting traditionalism and modernity within the characters themselves, Revivre’s strengths ultimately lie in the painful, poignant realism on show, in spite of one rather questionable character motivation. [Read More]