MovieChat Forums > Bakjwi (2009) Discussion > Question: Tae-ju's bruises (spoilers)

Question: Tae-ju's bruises (spoilers)

posted 9 years ago by Simon-140
6 replies | jump to latest

I was wondering about the cuts and bruising on Tae-ju's inner thighs.

While I haven't finished watching the film, I assume Tae-ju either practices self-harm perhaps from a sense of guilt, or to elicit sympathy from the Priest and Kang-woo, or because she's a masochist. A mixture of the latter two seems like a better fit, as it would explain her asking the Priest whether she's a "pervert" when they're having sex. Still, I'm not really clear about her motives, or even how long she might've been self-harming.

So far, this has been a brilliant film. I hope it maintains this level of quality to the end.

(Sorry about this. I haven't been giving the film the attention it deserves: I'm distracted by other things today.)

[–] Jameron 9 years ago

I'm assuming, by now, you've finished the film.

From memory, She cuts herself in order to convince Sang-hyon (the Priest) that Kang-woo (her husband) is a monster that deserves to be killed, by claiming that he is cutting her (not herself). Although it is clear, when the husband sees the cuts, that he is not responsible for them, and is horrified.

Agreed, it is a brilliant film.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e3tGxnFKfE

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

[–] Simon-140 9 years ago

Thanks for your helpful reply.

I have finished watching the film and it lived up to my hopes: it's great! Park Chan-wook has become a reliably excellent director.

[–] Jameron 9 years ago

He really has.

Have you seen Stoker yet?

Chung-hoon Chung is the Director of Photography, so if you liked the look of Thirst, Oldboy, I'm a Cyborg (but that's ok), etc, you're bound to love the look of Stoker.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e3tGxnFKfE

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

[–] Simon-140 9 years ago

Yes, I saw 'Stoker' just a few weeks ago, and I was most impressed with it, although the subject matter was less to my taste. (I've been having a bit of a film marathon lately.)

____
"If you ain't a marine then you ain't *beep*

[–] dcobbimdb 9 years ago

I somewhat disagree with Jameron, though it's left up to interpretation so there's really no proof either way.

I got the impression she was into self inflicted pain, kind of like running at night as a way to feel something. Now I'm not into self inflicted pain myself but I took it as an aspect of the way she was and also a method of feeling pleasure in her miserable life. I know it sounds nuts as to how pain can be pleasure and I'll leave it at that...

I don't think it had anything to do with the vamp guy, I think she mislead him because she was embarrassed about it and resentful to her husband, so kind of a win win there...

[–] Jameron 9 years ago

"I got the impression she was into self inflicted pain, kind of like running at night as a way to feel something" - dcobbimdb

That is also entirely possible. Rather like Emo kids cutting on themselves as an expression of the control they feel they lack in real life. She then could have capitalised on the wounds and mislead Sang-hyon in order to convince him to kill her husband.

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- - - - - - - - - - -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e3tGxnFKfE

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story