Lee Geum-ja is released from prison after serving over thirteen years for the kidnap and murder of a five year old boy, allegedly when she was just nineteen. Having had to bear the feeling of guilt all of her years in prison, she plans to exact revenge on Baek Han-sang the real perpetrator who had used her vulnerable state then to make her an accomplice and eventually trap her as the murderer in the eyes of the law. The meticulous planning she puts in to nab Baek with help of former prison inmates while trying to trace back her lost years is narrated to form the rest of the movie.
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Language:
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Korean
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Running Time:
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112 min
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Rating:
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R
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Release date:
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29 July 2005
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Directed by:
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Park Chan-wook
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Produced by:
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Jo Yeong-wook
Lee Tae-hun
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Written by:
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Jeong Seo-kyeong
Park Chan-wook
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Starring:
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Lee Young-ae
Choi Min-sik
Kwon Yea-young
Kim Shi-hoo
Oh Dal-su
Lee Seung-shin
Go Soo-hee
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Music by:
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Jo Yeong-wook
Choi Seung-hyun
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Shot by:
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Chung Chung-hoon
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Editing by:
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Kim Jae-beom
Kim Sang-beom
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Distributed by:
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CJ Entertainment
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What’s Hot
- There is a lingering taste of soulful Music throughout the movie with peaks during emotional scenes between Lee Geum-Ja and her estranged daughter Jenny. Predominant opera style renditions featuring masterpieces of Italian legends Vivaldi and Paganini suit the dramatic visualizations conceived and lend perfect support for such an intense revenge drama.
- Typical Park Chan-wook styled dark visuals are brought out in grand fashion by skilled cinematography from Chung Chung-hoon. The director’s influence is greatly felt in the numerous wide frames and uncomfortably close shots often having multiple layers of activity captured in the background and foreground. The distinct shades of red to symbolize the criminal instincts have worked well to convey the mood.
- Standout performances by Lee Young-ae as Lee Geum-ja and Choi Min-sik as Mr. Baek with infusion of young energy from Kwon Yea-young as Jenny(Lee’s daughter) is one ensemble acting unit that refuse to fade away from memory even long after the movie ends.
- Women are often shown exacting the perfect revenge and this story offers much more than that with self realization of the lead lady to reflect on her forgettable youth that led her to such a predicament. She tries to passes on the lessons learnt to her daughter and makes intellectual and righteous choices even while avenging the injustice she suffered, which is a noteworthy aspect of the story.
- The master of revenge sagas, Park Chan-wook is at the top of his game again which differs a lot from the previous films having toned down a touch on the twisted nature of the antagonists while maintaining the dark and emotional sides of the protagonists. The sequence towards the end when Lee faces her nemesis and her communications with Jenny with translations are bound to crack even the hard nuts.
What’s Not
- Though graphic depictions of sexual and brutal acts are a signature style established by the director in his previous movies, a few scenes in this movie targeted at wilful cruelty to animals and those pictured on bullied inmates of the prison are of a disturbing nature bound to ruffle a few feathers.
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Cinema Rendezvous
To rejoice & to reflect with the world of Cinema - A Chennai based Film Club. Showcasing films with fine discussions.The club meets once a month on Second Saturdays by 9.45 am @ Hotel Savera. Each date has a screening followed by an informal discussion with a distinguished guest.Verdict
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