‘Sympathy
for Lady Vengeance’ is a 2005 film directed by Park Chan Wook. It is the third
instalment in the director’s “Vengeance Trilogy”, following ‘Sympathy for Mr
Vengeance’ and ‘Old Boy’. As you may have guessed, all three share the theme of
gaining revenge on others, but they are not otherwise linked.
The film
begins with a beautiful young lady called Lee Geum Ja (Lee Young Ae) being
released after a long stint in prison. It is revealed that she was arrested for
the crime of killing a small child.
Geum Ja is
seemingly very detached from the outside world, instead pouring all of her
focus into a single mission of revenge on a certain someone.
She begins
to call upon favours from past fellow prison inmates, all of whom mention to
Geum Ja that she has changed since they last saw her and how the bright shade
of red eye shadow the woman now adorns daily does not suit her.
As we are
slowly filled in on the protagonist’s past we realise that she is actually an
incredibly kind and maternal individual, always caring for those around her in
the most gentle way. It is precisely for this reason that no one can refuse to
fulfil Geum Ja’s every request, despite how unsettled they are by her new
appearance.
As time goes
on the layers of Geum Ja are stripped further and further back. But many
questions remain. Why does she want revenge and on whom? And will she get it in
the end?
GOOD POINTS
o
The
cinematography for this entire film is totally breath-taking. It is so creative
and probably the most interesting I have ever seen. Park Chan Wook has a very
unusual style in the way he films things. He uses often very abstract
techniques to communicate narratives in an otherwise very realistic setting.
However, this juxtaposition of styles somehow doesn’t leave viewers confused or
disorientated, perhaps because the messages he is trying to get across during
these scenes come out so clear.
o
One
of the things I love about this film, as with most East Asian films in general,
is that you do not have a clear-cut “Good guy” and “Bad Guy” character dynamic at
play that you tend to see in a lot of films and stories. This portrayal is all
well and good in some cases, inside a comic book for example, but it has been
done so many times over the years that it can now get a little boring. I feel
that humans are neither all good nor all bad and the characters in this film
are perfect examples of this. Geum Ja is like an onion and as you peel away the
layers, you are left with a very complex character. She has made mistakes, but
has learnt from them and they inform her present decision-making.
o
The
relationship between Geum Ja and her young daughter Jenny (Kwon Yea Young) is
wonderful. Geum Ja had Jenny taken away from her when she was imprisoned and
the years apart, as well as the feeling of neglect that resides inside Jenny
makes for very unsettled foundations between the two. Despite this, the general
push-and-pull between them will leave you with a heart-warming feeling.
o
All
the actors in this film were great, but I would especially pick out Lee Young
Ae and Choi Min Sik (plays character Baek Han Sang) for their spectacular performances.
They make the characters so believable, you truly forget that they are acting –
what more can you ask for from them?
o
There
were some strangely humorous moments, which - again – is something that is
quite common in East Asian films. These sorts of moments are the kind where you
find yourself laughing, but then wonder if that was the intended reaction. It can
be quite unsettling when you have adjusted to a very serious piece, but I think
it takes some very clever writers to be able to slot this comedy into such an
unfitting mould. It also helps viewers to cheer up slightly, which can be
needed in very intense films such as this one.
o
One
of the messages that I personally took from this film is that happiness is
something that isn’t always given to you, but rather something you can work
for. Geum Ja is, understandably, a very broken and hurt individual after her
imprisonment. But she works towards her goal of revenge and only makes those
suffer who truly deserve it. She brings happiness to many other people in the
process (albeit, by very gruesome
means) and in that way, she can lift some of the weight that has resided upon
her shoulders for so many years. Now, I am not suggesting that everyone should
go and seek revenge on those that have wronged them (please don’t!), but rather
pointing out that it is so good to see that there is hope for even someone as
destroyed and empty as Geum Ja.
o
Last,
but most certainly not least, the
narrative of this film is great! It is not transparent and requires viewers to
piece things together for themselves, but it is equally not overly confusing or
non-linear just for the sake of it. The way that each little bit of information
is leaked out to the audience bit by bit will really encourage you to get
absorbed fully into the viewing experience. The feeling of satisfaction you get
when everything becomes clear also makes all the effort worthwhile.
BAD POINTS
o
There
was a technique used to enable Geum Ja and her daughter Jenny to have a
conversation, despite the fact that they actually spoke different languages
since Jenny was raised by adoptive parents in Australia. When each character
talked, a subsequent translation was given in each listener’s native language.
My criticism is that the audio was not very clear in these translations and it
became very difficult to understand the English and what was being said in
general when you are trying to listen and
read subtitles at the same time. Having said this, the film was obviously not
originally made to cater to non-Korean speakers like myself, so it is
understandable that this scene was a bit hard for me to understand.
OVERALL
Fans of Park Chan Wook’s other work will undoubtedly be
delighted with this piece. He has a knack for creating something entirely new,
but completely steeping it in his particular flavour and style. He really
brings back the idea that film-making is a form of art, a sentiment that a lot
of films have lost over the years.
I will admit that I personally probably wouldn’t have watched
this film if I wasn’t initially pushed to. Being someone that uses film as a
form of escapism, the generally depressed and dirty images that the “Vengeance
Trilogy” presents did not entice me. However, I am now glad to have ventured
out of my comfort zone and given this one a try. It is a sad and, unfortunately,
in some ways realistic story being told here, but it is the way it is told that
makes it worth the watch.
It is a very
violent, gruesome and gory film that includes a few sex and sexually-orientated
scenes, so it is definitely not one for the faint-hearted among us. However, if
you are bold and brave enough to face all that, I am sure that the quality of
this film will shine through to you.
Sidenote: Park Chan Wook cast Choi Min Sik as one of the main
characters? Min Sik was the lead in ‘Old Boy”! Reminds me slightly of the Tim
Burton/Johnny Depp relationship… :P
[Image Source: Google Images].
No comments:
Post a Comment