Park Chan-wook’s ‘The Handmaiden’ is a masterful film contrasting dark with light and (male) lecherous ugliness with (female) emotional beauty in a multilayered tale of immaculate depth and indeed meaning. Ultimately, ‘The Handmaiden’ sits atop the very best of Korean cinema, both in terms of narrative content and visual sumptuousness. [Read More]
Hangul Celluloid Korean film reviews (page 5)
Amor (그리울 련, 2015) review: a heartfelt revival of the terminal illness drama
There was a time in Korean cinema when terminal illness was a regular and recurring theme. With its gentle depth and understated, yet wholly realistic, heart-wrenching characterisations, ‘Amor’ reminds us of why the best of such films became thought of as classics at the same time maintaining an originality to its ultimately thought provoking narrative. [Read More]
Train to Busan (부산행, 2016) review: zombies, corporate self-interest and a relentless ride
A father and daughter’s train journey becomes a fight for survival when a zombie outbreak erupts onboard. Combining ferocious, fast-moving undead with humour, emotional stakes and critiques of corporate selfishness, Train to Busan delivers white-knuckle intensity, crowd-pleasing thrills and a rare balance of spectacle and human drama. Miss it at your peril. [Read More]
Missing You (널 기다리며, 2016) review: reimagining the female revenge thriller
While many of the narrative elements of ‘Missing You’ will be very familiar to fans of Korean cinema, its story of one young woman’s need for revenge is engaging enough to make the film worth watching, its strongest point being its decisive and unexpected resolution [Read More]
Mulberry (뽕, 1986) review: erotic commerce and female agency in Lee Doo-yong’s classic
A simple story concept that uses understated humour to draw audiences into a sumptuously erotic tale that not so long before would have been virtually taboo, ‘Mulberry’ also gives Korean cinema fans the opportunity to watch Lee Mi-sook as a young actress and realise that she was every bit as talented all those years ago [Read More]
The World of Us (우리들, 2016) review: cruelty and quiet empathy in childhood
A gently moving story of the tumultuous relationship of two young girls, Yoon Ga-eun’s debut feature – ‘The World of Us’ – is exemplary in every respect. Highlighting both Yoon Ga-eun’s talent as a writer and director, and introducing the superlative natural acting skill of young newcomer Choi Soo-in. [Read More]
The Truth Beneath (비밀은 없다, 2016) review: politics, betrayal and a mother’s descent into reckoning
Initially appearing to be a tale of politics and family, ‘The Truth Beneath’ ultimately shows itself to be a far more personal and poignant story of one woman’s efforts to uncover the truth of what happened to her daughter, and her discovery in the process of the lies and betrayal that permeate her entire life. [Read More]
The Priests (검은사제들, 2015) review: demons, doubt and ritual
While many would consider one exorcism horror movie to be much like another, ‘The Priests’ manages to combine ideas of modern Catholicism with far more traditional Buddhist rituals to bring a noticeable originality to proceedings. An engaging horror drama with utterly exemplary cast performances. [Read More]
Spirits’ Homecoming (귀향, 2016) review: trauma, memory and the search for closure
Spirits’ Homecoming splits its timeline between the 40s and modern day to shine a light on the ordeal faced by young girls forced into military sexual slavery and the trauma they have suffered. An ultimately uplifting story that speaks of the closure and peace so desperately needed by these blameless women [Read More]
Dirty Romance (더티 로맨스, 2015) review: a multi-layered narrative of poverty, disability and desire
This hard-hitting independent drama focusing on poverty, disability and desire is wholly in keeping with director Lee Sang-woo’s previous work. But ‘Dirty Romance’ also has moments of warmth, of understated humour and even of beauty to add layers and further levels to this already accomplished, thought provoking and important film. [Read More]
Alice in Earnestland (성실한나라의 앨리스, 2015) review: a fractured mind and a failing system
Director Ahn Gook-jin’s debut feature, ‘Alice in Earnestland’, has polarised audiences since its release – you’ll either love it or absolutely hate it – but those who can indulge themselves in Soo-nam’s surreally comic horror story will be rewarded with inventive set pieces bringing thoughts of numerous classic Korean films to mind. [Read More]
Speed (스피드, 2015) review: rebellious youth, broken dreams and first love
While Speed is equally as hard-hitting and Korean specific as director Lee Sang-woo’s earlier work, its story of the difficulties faced in life during the move from youth to adulthood makes it perhaps his most universally accessible film so far. [Read More]
Assassination (암살, 2015) review: a sumptuous period action epic
Set during the Colonial Period, Assassination is a star-studded, high-stakes thriller involving resistance fighters and double-crosses. Even from its early stages, it’s easy to see why it was such a huge draw at the box office. Sumptuous visuals combine with a gripping narrative to provide out-and-out entertainment, albeit overlong and lacking in character depth. [Read More]
Scarlet Innocence (마담 뺑덕, 2014) review: from illicit desire to ruthless revenge
While this present day reinterpretation of classic Korean folktale ‘Simcheongga’ deviates from the original story, the intricately twisted, deeply involved and emotional nature of Yim Pil-sung’s sexually charged thriller positively screams of its pansori origin. A cautionary tale perfectly wrapped within a story of revenge and retribution, Scarlet Innocence is as unpredictable as it is gripping. [Read More]
The Silenced (경성학교: 사라진 소녀들, 2015) review: atmosphere, mystery and unfulfilled promise
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]
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]