|
Lee Geum-Ja spends thirteen years behind bars for a crime
she did not commit, namely the abduction and murder of a young
child. Calling in favours with her previous cell mates, Lee
devises an elaborate plan to revenge herself against the man
who was really responsible...
Sympathy
for Lady Vengeance (2005) is the third part in writer
and director Chan-wook Park's trilogy of "Vengeance"
movies which also include 2002's Sympathy
for Mr Vengeance and 2003's Oldboy.
The first hour of the film is told in a non linear fashion
with scenes of both the past and present being intermixed
with dream sequences. Prior to the commencement of the main
plot we learn of her relationship with her various co-conspirators
and the reason that she would admit to a crime she didn't
commit.
This
is the main weakness of a film that so nearly could have been
called a masterpiece. Lee confesses to the crime because the
real killer has her daughter. Fair enough, but whilst in prison
the killer puts the child up for adoption in Australia. Surely
at that point, with her child safe, she would have tried to
implicate the killer. Even if she had been unsure of her daughter's
fate would she really leave her child in the care of a child
killer? The relationship with the child becomes a further
weakness later in the film, when Lee is finally reunited with
her daughter. With so many other things going on in the plot
it feels like there relationship is rushed, making it less
than satisfying and not as relevant to the story as I presume
it should have been, as it provides one of the motivations
for Lee's desire for revenge.
The
film is very violent and this is most probably why it is marketed
to a post Tarantino generation. There is some truth in this,
in that both directors enjoy playing with the format of film
story telling and both use violence, not as entertainment
but as a means of psychologically unsettling the audience.
Comparison could be made with Tarantino's Kill Bill.
Both films deal with women out for revenge after being away,
Uma Thurman's character in a coma and Lee Geum-Ja in prison,
but there the similarities end. Whilst, Kill Bill,
was a stylish film Lady Vengeance is more about the
act of revenge and the toll it takes on both the perpetrator
and the victim. The last hour of the film is an unsettling
examination between the killer's rights and the rights of
his victims and their families. Revenge, it seems, is never
as easy or as satisfying as you would think. Revenge exacts
a price, the price being a piece of your soul.
Both direction and cinematography on this film is beautiful.
Snow is used throughout to signify both innocence and the
loss of it; some of the most memorable scenes are those which
use the snow as a backdrop.
The
beautiful and talented Yeong-ae Lee turns in a truly inspiring
performance, going from angel to devil, sometimes in the course
of a single scene. If there's one think I've learnt watching
Asian films is you don't want to get on the wrong side of
a woman, their capacity for grim and graphic violence seems
to know few boundaries. Min-sik Choi as the villain, and in
some interpretations the ultimate victim of the piece, is
so convincing as the child killing psychopath, that in the
final reel I would imagine that most of the audience would
quite happily disembowel him.
The
disc has a very generous number of audio choices. You can
choose to watch in Korean stereo, 5.1 or DTS, with subtitles.
The DTS track is the one to go for as this shows off the films
soundscape the best. The print is crystal clear, but that
is only to be expected on such a recent movie.
The
extras are a bit disappointing, the original DVD release of
the film came with a "Making of" featurette, a bunch
of interviews and a copy of the film as the director had intended
to make it. The main change to the version presented here
is that it was the director's intention to have the film start
in full colour and gradually fade to black and white. In the
Tartan review copy I received, there is only an interview
with Chan-wook Park - where he spends much of the time extolling
the acting virtues of Yeong-ae Lee. He also discusses what
is held to be the main weakness of the film - that of her
relationship with her daughter and her motivation for going
after Mr Baek. Though his explanation puts this part of the
narrative in context, I still feel that it is the central
weakness of the film. The interview runs at a reasonable forty-one
minutes - though as he has everything interpreted for him
the interview is shorter than it would appear.
Also
on the extras we get the Original Theatrical Trailer
and an Asia Extreme Trailer Reel. That said, it may
have just been my copy as the DVD sleeve that was provided
clearly states that the commentary from the director and cinematographer
are included as well as the "Making of" documentary,
so best check which version you are getting before purchasing
the film.
Overall
this is a must have film for lovers of stylish and thought
provoking adult drama. Watch it, you won't be disappointed;
the film is a near masterpiece.
Charles
Packer
Buy
this item online
We
compare prices online so you get the cheapest
deal!
Click on the logo of the desired store below
to purchase this item.
|
|
|
£12.99
(Amazon.co.uk)
Limited Edition Packaging Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk |
| |
|
|
|
£17.83
(Amazon.co.uk) |
| |
|
|
|
£13.99
(Blahdvd.com) |
| |
|
|
|
£13.69
(Thehut.com) |
| |
|
|
|
£13.99
(Moviemail-online.co.uk) |
All prices correct at time of going to press.
|
|
