I just finished reading all the previous reviews and I guess my review is going to be completely different. I am a big fan of Korean cinematography and by now I have watched approximately over one hundred Korean films. This movie is by far the most disturbing and difficult movie to watch at least from a female's point of view.
The movie is divided into two different parts, two stories told from two main characters, two almost opposite accounts. The movie begins with the events that precede the final scene and only after that the rest of the parts are sequenced in order. The main male character is a total sleaze ball (actually, all the males in this movie can be categorized as such). The only thing he is interested is sex. When he finds out that the girl he was trying to have sex with is a virgin, his eyes light up as bulbs on a Christmas tree.
The story from the guy's perspective is quite ordinary, nothing special. By the way, before arranging having sex with a virgin, he checks the hotel room for hidden cameras (that shows you some experience!) However, when we watch the second part, retold from the female's point of view, we see the horrible reality that women have to go through in modern day Korea. The female character has to perform sexual favors for her older brother (yes, it is almost incest). She has to defend herself from being raped by her immediate boss. Even though she feels sick on that day and tries her hardest to avoid having sex with the new-found suitor who is a total womanizer and even calls her by some other name in bed, she agrees to having sex with him and it brings her nothing but pain that she felt she had to endure.
For all of you out there, THIS IS NOT A ROMANTIC FILM. In fact, it cannot be any farther from romance. It is a psychological drama, shot as a documentary with a twist, but there is no love in this movie. Sex - yes. Love - none. The final sexual scene feels like watching a girl being raped, even though it is a consensual rape. It is really disturbing and appalling.
On a final note, the actress who played the main character, Lee Eun Ju, committed suicide after her last movie "The Scarlet Letter". She began suffering from insomnia after performing the nude scenes in that movie. Let me tell you, it all added up, this movie included. If she would stay away from the movies that portray women as victims and walking sex objects, she might be alive with us today.
I also want to point out that it is the main goal of any art project, cinematography included, to purify people's souls and heal humanity, to evoke best feelings in our hearts, whether it is love, gratitude or sympathy, to pull the viewers up, not down. It is much easier to go downhill than uphill and there are plenty of directors who take the easy road.
I would not recommend this movie for those who want to walk away with a nice clean feeling or for those who prefer watching romance. This is a well-done movie with a disturbing message, that is why I am having a difficult time to rate this one. I will probably leave the ratings blank.
The movie is divided into two different parts, two stories told from two main characters, two almost opposite accounts. The movie begins with the events that precede the final scene and only after that the rest of the parts are sequenced in order. The main male character is a total sleaze ball (actually, all the males in this movie can be categorized as such). The only thing he is interested is sex. When he finds out that the girl he was trying to have sex with is a virgin, his eyes light up as bulbs on a Christmas tree.
The story from the guy's perspective is quite ordinary, nothing special. By the way, before arranging having sex with a virgin, he checks the hotel room for hidden cameras (that shows you some experience!) However, when we watch the second part, retold from the female's point of view, we see the horrible reality that women have to go through in modern day Korea. The female character has to perform sexual favors for her older brother (yes, it is almost incest). She has to defend herself from being raped by her immediate boss. Even though she feels sick on that day and tries her hardest to avoid having sex with the new-found suitor who is a total womanizer and even calls her by some other name in bed, she agrees to having sex with him and it brings her nothing but pain that she felt she had to endure.
For all of you out there, THIS IS NOT A ROMANTIC FILM. In fact, it cannot be any farther from romance. It is a psychological drama, shot as a documentary with a twist, but there is no love in this movie. Sex - yes. Love - none. The final sexual scene feels like watching a girl being raped, even though it is a consensual rape. It is really disturbing and appalling.
On a final note, the actress who played the main character, Lee Eun Ju, committed suicide after her last movie "The Scarlet Letter". She began suffering from insomnia after performing the nude scenes in that movie. Let me tell you, it all added up, this movie included. If she would stay away from the movies that portray women as victims and walking sex objects, she might be alive with us today.
I also want to point out that it is the main goal of any art project, cinematography included, to purify people's souls and heal humanity, to evoke best feelings in our hearts, whether it is love, gratitude or sympathy, to pull the viewers up, not down. It is much easier to go downhill than uphill and there are plenty of directors who take the easy road.
I would not recommend this movie for those who want to walk away with a nice clean feeling or for those who prefer watching romance. This is a well-done movie with a disturbing message, that is why I am having a difficult time to rate this one. I will probably leave the ratings blank.