Busan 2011: RED VACANCE, BLACK WEDDING Review
Working together in the past as assistant director and director this team of teacher and student brings us two films in one. They share the same lead and some qualities that one can only assume were planted into Kim Tai-sik by his teacher Park Chul-su. These films seem to only fit together only in the minds of our directors. The documentaries at the start give us a bit of insight into the overall theme, but in the end they are separate works that must be looked at separately.
Black Wedding
We are told that Park Chul-su is looking to defy convention by using a cliché structure in the documentary portion. The viewer is given an older professor in love with his young student. Newcomer Oh In-Hye, plays this young student. Much of the films hype was ignited when Oh showed up at the BIFF premier with a dress that left very little to the imagination.
The biggest disappointment is Oh's performance. She portrays little in the way of emotion, and seems to be just a shallow and selfish twenty something looking out for herself. One is not sure if Oh is even acting. She is ether cold and selfish or naked for the better part of the film. We are not allowed to enter her mind. Our professor played by C list actor Jo Seong-mok has simply drifted into the sad state of a man that has been seduced.
Park showed us his brilliance with Green Chair, a film that truly works on many levels. Here Park is a pervert with a camera and offering very little to the imagination. The film is at times beautiful, however all of the above-mentioned issues overshadow any brilliance left in Park.
This might fill the seats of some theaters, however with Korea's current lack of independent screening venues this film is destined for a life of downloads by fans of pornography not of film.
Red Vacance
In complete contrast to its tag team film, Red Vacance is a delight. What is going on inside the head of our director is interesting and sick at the same time. Kim Tai-sik gives dark comedy and adventure wrapped in the simple story of a philandering husband played by Jo Seong-mok.
Kim tai-sik showed great vision in his previous film, Driving With My Wife's Lover, an intensely dark and twisted story of an afar mixed with supernatural elements.
Kim blends bits of human emotion with that of our animal instincts. This film might not display solid acting, however Kim worked with what he had at hand. Using minimal dialogue and wide shots he brings the viewer into the strange little world that he has created.
The two films show what is good and what is wrong with Korean cinema. Old school exploitation can make way for wit and creativity. One quality they both share is the production. Shoestring budgets for local independent films is nothing new, however both films do look beautiful despite the being films on digital video.
Black Wedding
We are told that Park Chul-su is looking to defy convention by using a cliché structure in the documentary portion. The viewer is given an older professor in love with his young student. Newcomer Oh In-Hye, plays this young student. Much of the films hype was ignited when Oh showed up at the BIFF premier with a dress that left very little to the imagination.
The biggest disappointment is Oh's performance. She portrays little in the way of emotion, and seems to be just a shallow and selfish twenty something looking out for herself. One is not sure if Oh is even acting. She is ether cold and selfish or naked for the better part of the film. We are not allowed to enter her mind. Our professor played by C list actor Jo Seong-mok has simply drifted into the sad state of a man that has been seduced.
Park showed us his brilliance with Green Chair, a film that truly works on many levels. Here Park is a pervert with a camera and offering very little to the imagination. The film is at times beautiful, however all of the above-mentioned issues overshadow any brilliance left in Park.
This might fill the seats of some theaters, however with Korea's current lack of independent screening venues this film is destined for a life of downloads by fans of pornography not of film.
Red Vacance
In complete contrast to its tag team film, Red Vacance is a delight. What is going on inside the head of our director is interesting and sick at the same time. Kim Tai-sik gives dark comedy and adventure wrapped in the simple story of a philandering husband played by Jo Seong-mok.
Kim tai-sik showed great vision in his previous film, Driving With My Wife's Lover, an intensely dark and twisted story of an afar mixed with supernatural elements.
Kim blends bits of human emotion with that of our animal instincts. This film might not display solid acting, however Kim worked with what he had at hand. Using minimal dialogue and wide shots he brings the viewer into the strange little world that he has created.
The two films show what is good and what is wrong with Korean cinema. Old school exploitation can make way for wit and creativity. One quality they both share is the production. Shoestring budgets for local independent films is nothing new, however both films do look beautiful despite the being films on digital video.
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