Monday night Took, Francine and i checked out A Tale of Two Sisters at the comfortable Main Theatre. The film blew us away, and i'll be seeking out the other work of director Kim Ji-Wun.
Elder and younger sisters Su-mi and Su-yeon have returned to their father's home after a long unexplained absence. The girls miss their deceased mother, and must contend with an horrific stepmother, a relentless ghost, and a clueless dad. The film shifts in and out of dreams and possible hallucinations, and resets expectations a few times while gradually ratcheting up the suspense. The result is a remarkably effective thriller.
Although the film seems to reference recent Asian horror films, in many ways Tale of Two Sisters reminds me of 60's US and Italian psychological thrillers, or modern 'puzzle' pictures like The Sixth Sense or Videodrome, which are made for repeat viewing more than gruesome shocks. As in Argento's films, the set is an important character, and the gorgeous home seems to be totally lined with lovely but claustrophobic William Morris wallpapers. The whole joint, including accessories and closets, is a floral, neo-victorian womb. Francine called it "attack of the Liberty prints!". The sound effects are very creepy, and the acting is impeccable.
Pictured above, left to right, are Lim Su-jeong as Su-mi, and Mun Geun-yeong as Su-yeon. In a supernatural thriller, effects and atmosphere mean little if the actors can't sell it. These girls can do that and then some...
And Yum Jung-ah, who plays the stepmother, Eun-joo. Whoa.
It's a tribute to Kim's skill as a director that this film pleased both Took and me. She favors a more literal approach to supernatural stories, and i can't accept them unless they are very ambiguous, with no pious droning about the eternal power of eeevil or too much religious explication. But it worked for us both, because it was so darn well crafted. The three of us stood around for 15 minutes after the movie, just bouncing interpretations off each other. You have to form your own, and i suspect mine will change when i see it again. If you've seen Two Sisters, there's an interesting chronology (spoiler alert!!!) by reviewers at Kung Fu Cult Cinema here. Check out the elegant, slow-starting Tale of Two Sisters; your patience will be richly rewarded.
"Whoa" is right, when TRYING to praise Yum Jung-ah enough for her portrayal of the stepmom...it is fascinating to see this fantastic actress in all the facets of this character! And EACH aspect is absolutely credible...amazing!
This film is gorgeous to look at, challenging to watch (and follow) but utterly absorbing. It has several scenes that are so intense and fill you with such a sense of dread -- I found myself drained after these scenes, because of the creepy imagery AND simply from trying to push myself back, into and THROUGH my seat in order to get away from the sights. (Yeh, like that was going to help -- LOL)
Juana is right, we like a lot of the same movies, but we usually like them (or hate them) for different reasons. I need to know "why" something is happening, and I like to know "for sure" what something is about. I want to have a sense of a creature's mythology -- I don't like to make it up myself. (Like the first time I saw Hellraiser -- no explanations for why/who/what The Cenobites are.) I am also really drawn to terrifying things I truly believe are real (even in the daytime), including a lot of semi-religious stuff. THIS movie touches on VERY realistic ideas, and has so many horrific images and questions.
Now I would really like to read the Korean fairy tale this movie is based on.
I will absolutely purchase this film when it is released on DVD so I can continue the exquiste torture of re-interpreting it for myself. (Tahr-char!) Thank you, Juana and Franciney, for going with me to see this film and for the much-needed/appreciated discussion afterwards!
Took
Posted by: Took | January 14, 2005 at 01:00 AM
I read the chronological commentary on KFCC, and I am amazed, since it bears no resemblance to what I thought at all! What a remarkable film, on so many levels.
Obviously, we will have to have a DVD group viewing of this---I will be really interested to hear what Ramon has to say about the story.
Francine
Posted by: Francine R | January 16, 2005 at 11:37 PM