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In the spring of 1999, a group of old friends gather to celebrate their 20 year reunion. Among the group is Yeong-ho, a cold, unhappy man, whose demeanor puts a damper on the festivities. The seriousness of Yeong-ho's depression becomes apparent when he climbs a railroad bridge and looks like he might jump. At this crucial moment, memories of seven crucial episodes from Yeong-ho's past flood his mind.
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The life of a violent misogynist asshole told in reverse order so that the audience might wonder why he became a prick thereby putting up with his bullshit for 120 minutes only to forgive him if they buy into the idea that being a bastard all your life can be caused by one incident in the past.Yeah, I really did not appreciate this one.
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This is very well-made. I really appreciate the creative reverse chronological flashback story structure. That said, it's difficult for me to get emotionally invested in--much less enjoy--a narrative where the protagonist (Yeong-ho) is such an unconscionable piece of shit for the vast majority of it.It doesn't matter that "it all makes sense" by the end, especially since an explanation of behavior does not excuse said behavior (i.e., being abused doesn't justify abusing others). Also, it doesn't matter that Lee Chang-dong masterfully weaves psychoanalysis and South Korean history into the protagonist's story. Intellectually, sure, the abovementioned is cool. But what's acknowledged both "too late" (last 20min of a 2+ hour movie) and "after the fact" (reading analyses after the movie) intellectually is disconnected from what's experiential - emotionally, this was mainly frustrating to endure due to Yeong-ho's misogynistic, asshole antics. Basically, I acknowledge that this movie is "great" in some respects, but I can't deny the way it made me feel - this wasn't remotely a pleasant watch. 😩😮💨My Lee Chang-dong feature ranking:Poetry (by a wide margin!)OasisBurningSecret SunshineGreen FishPeppermint Candy
The film traces the life of a deeply troubled man in reverse chronological order, examining how personal and political trauma shaped his tragic downfall over twenty years.
It was directed by Lee Chang-dong in 1999, a prominent South Korean filmmaker known for his psychologically rich dramas.
Yes, it won Best Film at the Grand Bell Awards and received widespread acclaim on the international festival circuit.
