Madam White Snake (1960)

"The Power Of Love Seems Limitless" - Guanyin Bodhisattva, in Madam White Snake (1960)

This is the best version of Lady White Snake I have seen yet!

Also, I have already read about the 1978 abduction of a South Korean actress and her husband director (screenwriter for this movie) Shin Sang-ok, by Kim Jong-il of North Korea but i didn't realize she was the main female lead in this movie until I did a search for her and her other movies!

The main and suport cast were great together; their timing was really good and the entire film flowed easily. Of the support cast, Guanyin Bodhisattva (Han Eun Jin) reminded me of some of my old Buddhist classes in college!

I learned that this character, although starting out male, is usually portrayed as female in China. However, this version portrays the deity as truly caring for others.

Korean horror has a long history; there is always an audience for it. many would consider this a horror film, but this isn't a horror film. It is a classical story about a demi-god and her mortal love.

You can actually see the flying wire for madam Whie Snake if you are very observant, but that is a minor detail for this time period of moviemaking; otherwise the cinematography is great! The music is also fitting for this movie.

I especially liked the portrayal of Madam White Snake in what most would call "Heaven" where Master Beop Hae (Ji Bang Yeol) and Guanyin Bodhisattva reside.

While searching for the female lead in other movies here, I realized that many of the support cast also appear in the same movies as her during her career.

I am looking forward to seeing the casts' other movies as well!

My only complaintabout this movie is the "self-righteous attitude of Madam White Snake's detractors. I know they had to take this stance in order to be the 'villians' but this is not something that should be tolerated in any religion in real life.

Surprisingly, I have already read the book on the kidnapping and enslavement of Choi Eun Hee (Madam White Snake) and her husband, Screenwriter Choi Kyung Ok before seeing this movie.

The movie about their abduction and forced servitude in North Korea is available online for anyone interested.

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/kim-jong-il-kidnapping-south-korean-film-star-lovers-article-1.2099084

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lovers_and_the_Despot


RE-WATCH VALUE: Definitely!

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