Uncomfortable truth about Korean society

Kim Yoon-suk, right, stars in the film “Namjjogeuro Tur” about a middle-aged man who together with his wife fights against government authority. The 121-minute film is to be released on Feb. 7 in theaters nationwide. / Courtesy of Delight

This new film ““Namjjogeuro Tur” by Lim Soon-rye is a classical example of political bias; it is a significant reminder of trumpeting anxieties that were prevelant last year in Gangjeong village on Korea’s southernmost major island, Jeju.

This 121-minute film produced by director Lim, who is best known for “Forever the Moment” (2007), is based on Japanese author Okuda Hideo’s novel of the same title.
The first half of the film was funny, making audiences laugh, but the other half is rather tedious and feels uncomfortable to watch.

The filmmaker attracted an impressive level of attention from the media and public at the very beginning of the shooting for the film’s star-studded cast.

Choi Hae-gab (Kim Yoon-suk) is a 40-something man and a father of three children, who runs a small café in Seoul with his wife Bong-hee (Oh Yun-soo). For both of them, the most important thing in their life is to pursue happiness, and they also wish to be free from governmental authority. Choi constantly fights and protests against it, questioning what the nation has done to him and his family.

One day, they leave the city for a southern island with their children to get further away from it all and live more happily and sustainably without having to worry about anything, but the island is under the control of the government and is to be transformed into a holiday resort. Choi is seized with a sudden rage and decides to take a necessary course of action; start an opposition movement.

The acting is excellent. Kim, who shot to stardom since he appeared in “The Thieves” (2012), displays a good sense of humor with his exceptional acting skills and comic timing. Actress Oh also brilliantly portrayed the role of a strong and independent woman who never overreacts whatever happens to her and her husband.

However, the film has a certain political orientation, which seems too obvious and clear causing some eyebrows to rise throughout the screening. Some words used by the male protagonist in the movie like “red water” and “rat” directly indicate a certain group of people in society. Everyone knows what the director is trying to imply. The tense conflict between Choi and government authorities shows this politically biased attitude.

In response to this view, director Lim said at the press conference Wednesday that her film doesn’t “necessarily contain a certain political issue or intention. It’s rather about fighting against a group of capitalists who just make such reckless decisions like this case in the film.”

But the irony is that according to Kim at the press conference, the filmmaker gave him “some reference material about the Gangjeong village and Yongsan incident.”
Those big fans of Kim will love this film, but the rest will have to find out how they feel after watching it.

“Namjjogeuro Tur” is to be released on Feb. 7 in theaters nationwide. Rated for 15 and over. Distributed by Lotte Entertainment. <The Korea Times/Rachel Lee>