This movie is a phenominally beautiful piece of artwork by one of my favourite (in my top 3 korean) directors Kim KiDuk. This was his 12th movie and the dvd has had pride of place on my shelf for years, it is my favourite of all his films. The lead actress Han YeoReum has a kind of Shin MinAh quality to her, quiet and graceful, innocent but deep. The two male leads Suh JiSuk and Jeon SeongHwang are both charasmatic and interesting in their polar opposing ways.
This film has the most beautiful score (and yes i am going to continually use the word 'beautiful' until i have worn it so thin it no longer makes sense) and enchanting scenery - basically just water as far as the eye can see and a few old fishing boats.
The colours are so vivid, the music is like a clean fluffy blanket you want to snuggle in, and the story is sad but very sweet and compelling.
We begin the film with the old man (SeongHwang) stringing his haegeum, which also fantastically doubles up as a bow and arrow, set to a wonderful piece of music (i think by Kang Eunil) and we are steadily introduced to the life of this unlikely pair living on a boat out on the ocean. The old man found the girl when she was 6 and kept her with him with a vow to marry her the day she turns 17.
He is father and mentor to her but also there is the somewhat uncomfortable future looming that she will soon be his bride. We are not sure how she feels about this fate as they hardly speak at all - there is very little dialogue in the whole movie, but she does seem protected well by the old man and content to live as she is at first. Everything changes when a young man comes aboard to fish from their boat and he and the girl fall in love.
I wouldnt want to explain much more of this movie in fear that it would spoil the perfect pace of it, there is no need to know things before they happen. It is a little difficult in subject matter - but it is done with such sensitivity that i smile throughout the most awkward of moments. Mostly.
I feel drawn to all the main characters, and although you may start to think that the old man is just a creep, just take the time to understand his perspective as well. His emotional journey is just as important to follow as the young girl's. All these people have something to offer in your reflection on this subject, and nothing is clear cut, there are no real easy answers when emotions are involved. Humans are selfish by nature but, with our evolved awareness, only to a point. We have conflictions. And this is what is explored in this movie.
I struggle to describe accurately the thing that makes me love this film, as it is the feeling that stirs in me as i watch. Every moment is important and delicate, every thought that goes through their minds is challenged by another, and then it all ends with an ambiguous but provoking closure, it is not a one for people who like only the surface of things. Most feelings are described to the viewer with the character's expressions (i especially love JiSuk for this) and through the ever beautiful musical score.
There is a lot of subtle humour if you care to notice it, and the film is not as lonely feeling as it has the potential to be. (JiSuk slapping the foot-tied chicken on the head a dozen times is not only a bit of a symbolic thing but it also kinda makes me giggle too - it is more his little sigh and fed up face that does it.) My favourite bit for some reason is when he sort of accidentally watches her going to the toilet. Their expressions always manage to convey more than excess dialogue would.
It is heartbreaking in many ways but above all stunning and soulfull, and never fails to bring tears to my eyes. Nothing needs to be explained, it is all there on the screen if you have half a heart to understand it with.
movie posters:
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