Geumul (2016) Reviews

• Caught in a net, woven by both blind bureaucracy and goodwill

  humanome2016-12-24

  This new film by Ki-Duk Kim, one of the most renowned director/writer in Korea, deals an old motif of divided nations again (after "The Coast Guard" in 2002). As the title implies, Kim sees the South-North division as a big net. A fisherman (Chul-Woo Nam by Seung-Bum Ryoo) was caught in the net, by a probable series of accidents. In both South and North, Chul-Woo is suspected as a spy by bureaucratic or corrupted investigators. One believes in freedom, the other in anti-capitalism. But it soon turns out that they are only the weft and warp of the same big net, from which Chul-Woo is so desperate to escape. The real tragedy of this net lies in that even the kindness inevitably takes part in it, for Chul-Woo whose only ambition is to keep and meet his family. Chul-Woo is a stunning symbol of a way broader types of "net" and "fishes", the political and social distortions in the North and in the South as well. Ryoo's acting was superb. Not very easy a movie to see as other Kim's movies (at least less graphic, though), but another great visualization/symbolization as other Kim's works.

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• Great film about the consequences of extreme ideology

  info-017812016-10-16

  In the Net, director Kim Ki-duk uses the division between North and South Korea as an allegory for the negative consequences of humans having a black and white view of the world and becoming narrow minded and judgmental. It's an original narrative that presents a complex view of a well-known issue, presenting equal criticism of both North and South Korea. Some of the characters and parts of the plot are predictable at times, but there are a lot of great performances, all starting with the lead, Ryoo Seung-Bum. Those not affected by its 14a rating, due to violence and some nudity, will find The Net to be an entertaining thriller that holds you until the end.

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• A Different Movie from Kim Ki Duk

  SameirAli2017-01-24

  Kim Ki-Duk, the director's name is enough to watch the movie. As usual, this movie also has great actors who live in the character. Beautiful visuals also empowers the vision of the director. The Story of a family loving poor fisherman, who accidentally crossed the border when his boat broke down. The poor fisherman becomes a bate on the political tension between the South and North Korea. As soon as he crossed the border he was captured and put under investigation. There he meets a kind-hearted guardian and a cruel investigating officer. The fisherman was mentally and physically tortured to prove that he was a spy. He was asked to write down everything about him since childhood, several times. After many dramas he was set free to go back to the North. He was warmly welcomed back to his country. But, do you thing someone stayed at the rebel country few days will be treated without doubt? The movie will touch your heart in deep. The family sentiments, his 6 years old daughter, the sincerity and frankness, all the elements are set to steal your sentiments. A definitely must watch and highly recommended. #KiduMovie

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• Beautiful portrayal of a man captured in-between two worlds

  a_glentis2017-07-10

  A nice portrait of a simple man who is driven by fate to go from North Korea to the South, against his will and his struggle to rejoin his family. The movie concentrates on his agony to return to North Korea. His eagerness to reject every temptation of South Korea is his manner to protect himself from both the unknown pleasures of capitalism and also from the inquiries of his communist government, once he shall return. It's evident throughout the movie that it's mostly his family that he misses and not so much his beloved country. Even though the main character is doing his best to show to everyone -and mostly to the propaganda of his country- that he is a loyal citizen of the regime, it's quite clear that he wouldn't mind giving it up if someone could help him re-unite with his wife and daughter. However, since he realizes that this is impossible to happen outside North Korea, he is determined to do everything he can to go back. In that angle, the movie is more about personal feelings and family love, crushed in between two completely opposite cultures and lifestyles and in the end, I think that it succeeds to pass the message that emotions for the people you love are more important than ideology. Besides some easily foreseen behaviors of the main character and some rather quick passages of interesting moments that could make the movie better, the acting of the main character is superb and overall makes of the movie a very interesting picture of the situation in the Korean peninsula

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