Chan Wook Park – Film Maker

This is the first time I’m writing exclusively about a Film Maker and his works. I wanted to begin with THE Director who had the maximum impact, who became one of my favorite with just a single movie - Chan Wook Park, the acclaimed South Korean film maker.

His forte is controversial and dark subjects presented with extreme violence. I am one among the millions who have been shocked, thrilled and psyched by his works. Of course not everyone will like the graphic content of his movies. His works are not for the timid or for the people who only watch feel good fantasy movies. If one can look beyond the violence and understand the concepts and situations the director weaves for his characters, then the genius of Chan Wook Park will hit you like an Express Train.

His take on the style and subjects he chooses:

"Basically, I'm throwing out the question 'When is such violence justified?' To get that question to touch the audience physically and directly - that's what my goal is. In the experience of watching my film, I don't want the viewer to stop at the mental or the intellectual. I want them to feel my work physically. And because that is one of my goals, the title 'exploitative' will probably follow me around for a while." – Source IMDB.

Park has directed twelve films till date, out of which he his well-known for his Trilogy - Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy and Lady Vengeance. The most striking thing about his movies is that all his characters look very real. The performances are on par or even better at times when compared to Hollywood or European Cinema. Indian audiences will go mad if they get to see the kind of subjects he handles. We might think Hollywood is extremely forward and liberal but wait till you see his works. Cinematography is also one of his strengths. The daring subjects coupled with beautiful and unique visual design will stun the viewer into a trance.

I've seen three of his works and here are my(re)views. I'll update this write-up as I watch more of his films.

J.S.A. Joint Security Area [2000]  

The story deals with the volatile North and South  Korean politics. A shooting incident at a border post leaves two North Korean soldiers dead with three survivors. A neutral enquiry is conducted by Swiss Investigators to find the truth. Both sides come out with different versions of what really happened. The investigators slowly decipher the mystery as the actual incidents are shown in flashbacks.

The movie starts with a bang but overall the screenplay is at a  slow pace. The acting makes all the difference.

The movie raises a lot of important issues which haunts both the countries. One insightful theme is the separation or lack of peace between the two countries which actually benefits other Nations who are obsessed in controlling the world. The same is true in our sub continent; if peace prevails all of us get to gain. So the question is, with war and trouble in our region “who stands to gain the most?”

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance [2002] : Rated R

It's one of the most depressing films I have seen but one cannot argue with the motives for the bloody events happening in the movie.

Ryu, a deaf and dumb factory worker takes care of his sister who is unwell. She needs a Kidney transplant, Ryu’s blood type doesn’t match so he is unable to donate his own kidney. He desperately tries to save his sister through illegal means which leads him into further despair. The story takes some mind blowing twists and turns with some brutal portrayal of emotions.

All the events flow like water in a river. The use of silence in many sequences is intriguing. Be warned that this movie is extremely violent with some gruesome scenes.

P.S. I screened this film for my peers while I was at film school, by the end of the movie there were quite some people who walked out and one even rushed out as she felt sick due to one particular scene in which there was nothing visually graphic on screen.

Old Boy [2003] : Rated R

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS FILM DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER. THE BEST WAY TO EXPERIENCE THIS FILM IS TO SEE IT WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS FILM. GO WATCH IT NOW.

This is The Movie which made me a fan of Chan Wook Park.

Oh Dae-su is locked up in a room. After fifteen years of imprisonment he is set free by his captors. Oh Dae-su vows to find his captor and the reasons for his detention.

I’m not going to explain more about the plot as it will lead to spoilers. The story is extremely controversial and it might be too explicit even for western audiences. Acting is top notch especially of Min-sik Choi who plays the lead character Oh Dae Su. He has given an exceptional performance which is both physically and emotionally demanding. This movie gave Park his much deserved international acclaim. It also won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes film festival.

There were reports that Steven Spielberg was to remake this movie with Will Smith in the lead. Later Will Smith was trying to procure the rights to the original Japanese Manga Comic on which Old Boy was based. Somehow the project didn't come to life. Now after so many years Spike Lee is directing the Hollywood remake. It's unreasonable to expect spike lee to come up with a better version, but  I  do respect his talents. Let's just wait and watch. Also there was an unofficial remake in Hindi - Zinda by Sanjay Gupta.
(update) And the hope dies as I just watched a really crappy remake. The original cut was supposed to be 140 mins but the studio edited the movie heavily and the final released version was 104 mins. Even if it was the longer version, the movie wouldn't have worked, as it was a really bad remake by Spike Lee.

Old Boy was Park’s first movie that I saw. A friend told me that this was a cult classic and about a year later I got the movie. I feel like I wasted a year by not watching this one. At that time I was working for an MNC and everyday when I got back from work I used to watch a lot of movies. As usual I started this movie and leisurely lay down on my bed to see what the fuss is all about. Half an hour into the movie I was sitting upright and staring at the monitor without blinking an eyelid. As the movie came to an end, I sat there staring blankly at the wall. Such a Shocking story; I haven’t seen anything like this before. This was creativity at its best in cinema. As a person who is obsessed with anything creative, I asked myself “What the F…k am I doing here in this Crappy job?”

Within a couple of months I quit my job and a year later, after constant efforts, today I am taking my first step towards learning the Art of Film Making. Chan Wook Park made me jump right off the cliff into the Amazing World of Cinema. I can’t predict what the future holds for me but I’m extremely happy that I’m making an Effort.

Happy Independence Day.
Cheers

Pradeep

Some interesting links:
http://youniversemovie.blogspot.com/2008/11/oldboy-octopus-eating-scene.html

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Update: OCT, 2012

Lady Vengeance [2005] : Rated R

The story is about Geum-ja Lee, who is released from prison after 13 years. She was convicted for kidnapping and murdering a young boy. She plots her revenge against the real perpetrator of the crime with the help of her Ex inmates.

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance is another Masterpiece. This was the third film in the Vengeance Trilogy. I watched this movie again after a very long time. Each time I watch it, it mesmerizes me. It  throws a zillion thoughts in my mind about the characters, the situations, the violence, the pain and all the little detailing that has gone into making this wonderful classic.

Park's films are known for its technical brilliance and Lady Vengeance is another treat to watch. The shot design and transitions are mind blowing. The music as always with his films, is spot on. Never intrusive but always engaging. The cast consists most of the actors from the other two Vengeance movies. The lead character is played by Yeong ae Lee. She looks Angelic, her performance is quite powerful, but restrained.  There isn't much violent scenes which one would expect in a revenge drama but the second half will be a little difficult to watch with some shocking scenes.  

Lady Vengeance is indeed a Violent film, not for your Eyes but for your Senses.

Cheers
Pradeep