Oldeuboi - Oldboy (2003)

"Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone." Oh Dae-su

☆☆☆☆☆ Masterpiece 

Oldeuboi - Oldboy (2003) is an epic tragic tale of Shakespearean King Lear proportions.

Directed by Park Chan-wook.

Starring Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jung among others.

Park takes a tragic, blood soaked revenge tale and adds beautifully complex plot twists that lead to Choi's characters trinity of redemption, atonement and salvation. I found it difficult at times to watch the horrific carnage that Chan-wook fills his scenes with. The interesting thing that I observed is that the violence that erupts is needed for the trinity that follows. If the blood did not flow their could be no redeeming. If Christ had not been beaten and crucified there could have been no salvation for mankind. Choi's character takes on a Christ-like mental and physical beating, so that his ultimate triumph is assured. Park's Judeo-Christian religious atonement, redemption and salvation themes are a stark contrast to Kim Ki-duk's Buddhist atonement, redemption and salvation themes in Bom Yeoreum Gaeul Gyeoul Geuringo Bom - Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring (2003). Both Park and Kim's films were released in the same year.

Chan-wook also has visually stunning scenes that make scenes come off the screen. Park also adds unbelievably complex, choreographed fight scenes that leave you breathless.

I have to admire Choi for taking on such a physically and mentally demanding role. It's not often actors are called to eat live Octopuses as in the scene below.

Film Scene

Trivia - Min-sik ate four live octopuses for the sushi bar scene.

Film Trailer

Ordet - The Word

"If you have faith like this child, anything is possible." Johannes

☆☆☆☆☆ Masterpiece

Ordet - The Word (1955) is hypnotic and transformative Danish masterpiece.

Directed by Carl Theodor Dryer.

Starring Henrik Malberg, Emil Hass Christensen, Cay Kristiansen, Preben Lerdorf Rye, Ejner Federspiel.

Dryer based Ordet on Kaj Munks 1925 play, Begyndelsen var Ordet (In The Beginning was the Word). Carl only used one third the dialogue in Kaj's play, but kept his entire message of faith.

Ordet is the most languid and hypnotic narrative pace in film history. I could not stop watching Dryer's Ordet. As visually stunning and as religiously potent as Kim Ki Duk's, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring (2003). Carl and Kim share a passion for telling visually hypnotic stories with a belief that transcends human understanding. In both movies I was in tears at the end; tears of joy. It's hard to put into words the effect this movie had on me.

The acting is superb in its minimalism. I read that Dryer wanted a very specific performance from each actor. To me Preben had the hardest role. How do you as an actor get dialogue to be believable from a character who thinks he is Jesus Christ and quotes him verbatim. In the scene below watch how Rye handles this impossible task. Enjoy!

Film Scene

Trivia - Dryer used only his eyes to set up his lighting for all of his scenes.

Film Trailer

Sanma No Aji - An Autumn Afternoon

"Drinking makes people talk too much" Shuhei

☆☆☆☆☆ Masterpiece

Sanma No Aji - An Autumn Afternoon (1962) is a beguiling Japanese cinematic masterpiece.

Directed by Yasujiro Ozu.

Starring Chishu Ryu, Shima Iwashita, Keiji Sada among others.

An Autumn Afternoon was Yasujiro's last film and his most technically precise, especially with the modern addition of full color. Ozu's film reminds me of Kim Ki Duk's Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter And Spring in that both directors meticulously film every object and character is in perfect harmony with each other and their surroundings, as if they are achieving the Chinese symmetry of Feng Shui. If you look closely at each object in the background and foreground of every scene you will see the beautiful symmetry that the color film brings to life and how they help explain the traditions of the past.

In the scene below pay close attention to the foreground and background objects that talk of the past and how they contrast the modern dress of the men sitting in a classical Japanese way. Note how the sole woman in the scene is seated at another table apart from the men and her dress and her dialogue speak of the traditional ways. Also note how the men (who are the patriarchs of their respective families) are dressed in modern attire, yet speak of the traditions they were brought up in and how difficult it has been to modernize for the greater good for their children. The men take up the modern ways to provide for their families while the women keep the traditions alive at home. Yasujiro does all this subtle subtext throughout the film.

I might not understand as a western audience member the numerous details that Ozu places in each scene, but I grasp the duality that life presents in his film. Sanma No Aji (An Autumn Afternoon) should be in your life library. Enjoy!

Film Scene

Trivia - There is no camera movement in the film. Ozu used a static camera for most of his later films.

Film Trailer

Bom Yoereum Gaeul Gyeoul Geuringo Bom - Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter & Spring

"Lust awakens the desire to possess. And that awakens the desire to murder. " Old Monk

☆☆☆☆☆ Masterpiece

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring - Bom Yeoreum Gaeul Gyeoul Geuringo Bom (2003) is a South Korean enraths the viewer from beginning to end.

Directed and acted in the last scenes by Kim Ki Duk.

Starring Oh Young Soo and Seo Jae Kyung among others.

Kim's film reminds me of Yasujiro Ozu's, Sanma No Aji (An Autumn Afternoon). Kim weaves the most simple, wonderous and meditate film I have ever had the pleasure of viewing as an audience member and as an actor. Kim uses the seasons to illustrate the cyclical journey of life. Buddhism idealogy is subtly embedded throughout the film to help us understand the story and its characters journey through nature's endless circular seasons.

As an audience member I was transported to a world filled with wisdom, serentity and majestic beauty. I'm not a Buddhist so the symbols that are subtly put into each scene were seen by me, but not fully understood. My lack of Buddhism in no way affected the journey Kim was taking me on. I just sat back and took Kim's journey and promised myself to research the Buddist symbolism after the film ended. I located a simple guide to the Buddhism symbols throughout Kim's film and I'm sharing it with you. Please watch the film before reading the link. Let the film speak to you at your level. Then after your first viewing be amazed and surprised at how many different Buddhist symbols Kim subtly put throughout the film to help his audience in their journey with the characters.

As an actor I was fascinated by the lack of dialogue throughout the film. The key to the acting in this film is the wonderful chemistry and subtext that Kim helps the actors achieve in each scene. Kim did a wonderful job with Seo Jae Kyung who plays the young boy in the first season of the film. Seo's emotional range shows an acting instrument well beyond his years. When I see young performers achieving such heights in their characters emotional life I give credit to the director who helped guide them there. Enjoy!

Film Scene

Trivia - None of the main characters in the film have names. Buddhist abandon the idea of the self and become part of the whole of existence. 

Film Trailer