MovieChat Forums > Hyeongsa (2005) Discussion > if you want narrative or genre film, thi...

if you want narrative or genre film, this is not for you.

posted 18 years ago by meowmeow70
7 replies | jump to latest

This movie is disguised as historical action romance detective film.
Underneath this is very self consicous and experimental film.
Of cource, there is compromise between mainstream movie and director movie.
I think that is having narrative in this movie.

Director expresses his visual vision which is loosely baed on detective story narrative.However if you try to follow narrative in this movie,you will be utterly disappointed.

This is almost another form of alienation effect. There is an narrative but narrative can not handle its grandized style. It is not style for narrative but narrative for style. Director almost challenges you what movie is and means to you. In this grossly capitalized movie world, can movie be presented as an art form or a painting. is it even possibility of discussion?

If you like this kind of geeky challenge(almost Brecht like) or exploration, this is movie for you. If not, I say still give a shot and focus on style and rythm and visualization and do not waste to spend too much time to follow the "story".

Movie is based on comic book characters and stories written by Bang Hak-gi.
Korean soap opera "Damo (female detective)" also is based on this comic book story.

Female leading lady(Ha ji won) played similar role in drama "Damo".
Damo was great hit series drama in korea.

This movie did not do well in korean box office but there is a cult following for this movie. When you try to buy dvd, make sure that it is quality you want because director did serveral digital enhancement on this movie after release.
That is what I heard anyway and you do not want to miss gorgeous visual in this movie.

[–] eternityandinfinity 18 years ago

Thank you for the tip, because I plan on hitting up every video store overseas if it means getting this movie on DVD. ^^"

[–] sch80 18 years ago

Don't waste your time. I watched the movie this afternoon and it was disappointing but it was an artist movie that tried hard to follow elements that Chinese movies pull off with grace. Ha Ji-won is at her best in romantic comedies and think she should stay in that genre.

[–] xym07 17 years ago

What I'd like to tell is to stay away from Korean DVDs.
It failed to represent the gorgeous visual from original film.
Rather buy a Japanese one.

[–] Reiyou 17 years ago

Thank you for the well-written explanation and warning, meowmeow70.

It is a beautiful film, but it progresses more like an experimental theatrical piece. It is more like a movie to be absorbed, than watched, and is best watched at 1:30 am in the morning.

I loved Namsoon's insane howling and shouting.

[–] j_eyon-2 15 years ago

I think that's a fair assessment, kitty cat. It's a visually potent mood piece, more about the growing feelings between the lady policewoman and the mysterious swordsman than about the counterfeiting plot.

Some, like me, will like it with all its flaws. Most will give up very quickly.

The short TV series DAMO with the same basic plot is available on DVD. It has a more traditional storytelling framework. And the same attractive actress (Ha ji won) who gives a more realistic and appealing performance in it than in the movie (I suspect the director was responsible for her strange acting style in the movie).

[–] doubting_thomas 15 years ago

it was a little style-over-substance

but the style was spectacular.

[–] fun-niji 10 years ago

2014. I REALLY like this movie and I haven't even gone half-way through watching it. This is my first time seeing it but it isn't the first East Asian Movie I have been watching lately. In fact I have seen quite a few - I think over a 100; and have come to realize the difference in film-making not just in production making but also the influences of culture.

As for South Korean Movies I was already aware how much they like to genre bend/ blend, since the days of Goong (Princess Hour) (TV series). Those questions you posed about this film, Duelist (2005), comes from someone who understands this craft and style. Not because I had studied Film but because I am genuinely interested, increasingly so recently, in how films are made and in particular East Asian Films; the interest goes beyond narrative and characterizations but also techniques used: i.e. camera angles and where it is placed within difficult shots, edits, SFX, etc.

Unless someone has a genuine interest in Film Language, films like this, Duelist, will be hard to swallow. Personally, my opinion, I love that South Korea loves to genre blend, use of taboo, basically experiment and have these films released as a Local Blockbuster film.

I know I have not answered you questions. I cannot yet due to the fact I haven't seen the film as a whole. But though some of the loose translations of the humour is lost to me, as I said, I really appreciate this movie. It's not perfect but it is fun, and as someone who likes to think about how certain shots are planned or made, I am going to be viewing this again.

Btw, just in case you do read this now, here is a question for you since you posed one about what a movie is, if it can be an art form like a painting. Say you draw, and you have been drawing since you were a child. As you were growing up, say, in this case, far from many influences, you develop your own style and technique. Your drawings 'feel' free. Then you enter school and get taught techniques and norms, etc. You begin to loose that sense of you, which can happen. Do you think this kind of situation be transferred to making films? People are so used to 'what a film' should be like (beginning, middle and end) that this way of thinking is also predominant in a film-maker's mind.