nfabjoy
Somewhere in Africa
A subversive experiment ahead of its time
This has been touted as one of the worst films in South Korea and I highly disagree. I believe that this film is one of the foremost singular films to emerge out of South Korea in recent years . It’s a weird movie (definitely)but I foresee it being a cult classic in future years.
I will review, however ,and say that this is not a light nor agreeable watch. In fact - it may come across as frustrating , mind bogging and odd. Its non linear and uses dream sequences in a combative way but the enduring presence of Kim So Hyun makes the watch very palatable .I also do not think that this is a Korean Noir film as it is sometimes described because Real is completely divorced from the noir narrative . Instead , Real is heavily stylistic and its use of violence is elegant and graceful and not grotesque like a Tarantino film inspired by Hong Kong Noir. When one disregards the noir narrative , Real truly is a movie that explores psychological problems and the mental illnesses invoked by addiction.
Its portrayal of psychosis in the form of the Giovanni Mirror Syndrome is something very interesting and groundbreaking as a movie motif. Hence, a complete hats off to Kim Soo Hyun for being dynamism personified as the masked millionaire and gangster and victim of the syndrome. What range ! I read that Kim Soo Hyun wanted this film to be the “representative work of his late twenties” and, my word , did he deliver ! Its truly a role he can be proud of despite the negative reviews surrounding this movie. Moreover , the late Sulli was really quite astounding as Song Yoo Hwa. There is a scene where she is in the throes of addiction and Kim Soo Hyun's character who plays her lover is desperately trying to save her and the look in her eyes was so hauntingly tragic and desperate, perfect for the scene. These two were phenomenal that its a pity the direction was not.
I shaved a lot of points to come to a 6 because direction was not deft and lot of things were not explained or given cinematic pregnant moments . Direction was pretty puerile and the script had a lot of potential but the director just could not restrain himself and things got carried away and I was like 'huh ???!!"
In the end, it all came out as too experimental for a mainstream audience and budget which is dismal because with its budget it could have, at the very least,come out polished but even there-it failed. Its a pity - because this is BURSTING with potential but alas.
Though I do highly believe in 20 years - film enthusiasts will look back and say "Real was really onto something."
I will review, however ,and say that this is not a light nor agreeable watch. In fact - it may come across as frustrating , mind bogging and odd. Its non linear and uses dream sequences in a combative way but the enduring presence of Kim So Hyun makes the watch very palatable .I also do not think that this is a Korean Noir film as it is sometimes described because Real is completely divorced from the noir narrative . Instead , Real is heavily stylistic and its use of violence is elegant and graceful and not grotesque like a Tarantino film inspired by Hong Kong Noir. When one disregards the noir narrative , Real truly is a movie that explores psychological problems and the mental illnesses invoked by addiction.
Its portrayal of psychosis in the form of the Giovanni Mirror Syndrome is something very interesting and groundbreaking as a movie motif. Hence, a complete hats off to Kim Soo Hyun for being dynamism personified as the masked millionaire and gangster and victim of the syndrome. What range ! I read that Kim Soo Hyun wanted this film to be the “representative work of his late twenties” and, my word , did he deliver ! Its truly a role he can be proud of despite the negative reviews surrounding this movie. Moreover , the late Sulli was really quite astounding as Song Yoo Hwa. There is a scene where she is in the throes of addiction and Kim Soo Hyun's character who plays her lover is desperately trying to save her and the look in her eyes was so hauntingly tragic and desperate, perfect for the scene. These two were phenomenal that its a pity the direction was not.
I shaved a lot of points to come to a 6 because direction was not deft and lot of things were not explained or given cinematic pregnant moments . Direction was pretty puerile and the script had a lot of potential but the director just could not restrain himself and things got carried away and I was like 'huh ???!!"
In the end, it all came out as too experimental for a mainstream audience and budget which is dismal because with its budget it could have, at the very least,come out polished but even there-it failed. Its a pity - because this is BURSTING with potential but alas.
Though I do highly believe in 20 years - film enthusiasts will look back and say "Real was really onto something."
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