Synopsis: The first film in Park Chan-Wook’s acclaimed Vengeance trilogy. The sister of a simple and deaf factory worker, Ryu, falls ill and needs a kidney transplant, however he is not a match so he looks to the black market which he can’t afford. After being fired from his job, his rebel girlfriend suggests that he kidnap the child of his former boss, Park. When the girl accidentally dies, her father seeks vengeance for her death.
***********************************************************************

Boksuneun naui geot 8.25

What could have been a pretty straightforward crime drama has been turned into a feast for the senses by Chan-wook Park: it seems as though every scene has been masterfully calculated to provide the viewer with something fascinating to look at. Even the ambient noises and music were used to maximum effect – this is a surround sound fan’s wet dream.

The editing, however, while stylish, left me confused at times, unsure as to what was going on. Still, held up by solid performances across the board and a clever storytelling approach by the filmmaker, the few moments of incoherence can be dismissed; I actually enjoyed this even more than the first time I saw this, years ago.

…but not enough to give this film a higher grade. If not for the editing, it would merit a grade somewhere between 8.5 and 9.0. It’s that good.

Now I’m REALLY looking forward to re-seeing the other two films in his ‘Vengeance Trilogy’, which are actually superior to this one. Next Monday can’t come soon enough.