SHIRI - a fish, a wish and a codename

Turning the clock back to 1999 -to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of SHIRI - Korea's first blockbuster and the rise of Korean films in the global arena. What a cast - Han Suk-kyu, Choi Minsik, Song Kang-ho, and Kim Yoon-jin - big names that have grown even bigger. It has action, romance, tragedy, humour, tight editing and great acting plus a song by Carol Kidd that closes the movie beautifully.

The name of the film refers to:
1. A kind of freshwater fish, native to Korea - apparently it only exists in the purest of waters so ironically can only be found in the DMZ.
2. The codename for the North Korean spy, one of the main characters in the movie
3. a wish for reunification ( not just for the divided Koreas but also for the lovers)
"Here's the official music video from the film Shiri, directed by Kang Je Gyu (Brotherhood) and starring Han Kyu-Suk (Scarlet Letter), Choi Min-Sik (OldBoy), Kang Ho-Song (JSA) and Kim Yoon-Jin (Lost)."

Thank you to bobbybulletbobson for posting on youtube.

BTW, closing scene was shot in Joongmun-dong, Seogwipo, Jeju-do

For Darcy Paquet's review, click here.
For Anthony Leong's review, click here.

My Fav K Sounds - Part 3

Before the days of TV, DVD and youtube, there was Pansori. Before Superjunior, the Wonder Girls or TVXQ, there were pansori singers. Past generations of Koreans used to get their entertainment from this traditional opera form. But it's also very different from Verdi or Chinese opera.

A solo singer stands while recounting a legend or folk narrative. A drummer, who sits cross-legged on the floor, accompanies him or her. I don’t understand a single word of the lyrics but find the performances impressive because of the unearthly intensity and expressiveness of the voices. Harsh, guttural, raw at times, the singer’s voice could also be full of pathos and sorrow. I know nuts about voice technique but it seems that the throat ( rather than the diaphragm ) of the pansori singer is made to do extraordinary things.

My introduction to this Korean art-form came by way of Im Kwon-taek’s movie, Seopyeonje. The children of a pansori singer become his pawns in his relentless quest to keep his craft alive at all costs. Not only does the movie feature some beautiful landscapes but it also has some riveting performances. By listening to pansori, one may have a glimpse into the Korean soul.

The first extract from the movie here features the Jindo Arirang and the second is a bit of a spoiler because it's near the end of the movie. The first time I saw the movie, it came with English subtitles. When I had the chance to visit Korea, I had to get a copy of the movie. Unfortunately, English subtitles weren't available but I still had to have it because it's a compelling story with some powerful & haunting music.

More on pansori and the movie in future postings.

For movie review, click here.

Would you knowingly chase an illusion?

Photo source: http://visitkorea.or.kr/cms/resource_etc/83/300383_image2_1.jpg

JUSANJI ( GyeongSangBuk-Do; near JUWANGSAN National Park)

Thin morning mists. The smallest of hermitages in a small pond. Reflections of old willow trees. An elderly monk and his young acolyte on a wooden boat.

I stumbled upon this image while surfing on the Net and the impulse to seek it out evolved into a minor obsession. I knew I was chasing an illusion. More clicks on the Net had revealed that this was a construct of film director Kim Ki-duk’s imagination; the tiny shrine had been built specifically for his movie, “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring” and after shooting, it was transferred to YeongPyeong Resort.

Moreover, this isn’t even a natural pond. It’s actually a man-made reservoir built in 1720 for agriculture and drinking water.

Still, the image is irresistable and I find myself buying a ticket from an automated ticketing machine at the bus depot in Juwangsan for a bus to Ijeon. There’s no direct bus so it’s a long but easy walk along a narrow river and rice fields to Jusanji. Managed to hitch a ride from a young couple when I got tired and impatient. Hitching back to Juwangsan was harder but a kind soul from Seoul came to the rescue.


What happens to a dream realised in the prosaic afternoon light when the mists have long lifted? There’s little solitude here with so many photographers here also in search of something elusive. What did I expect to find in Jusanji? I’m no photographer. I hadn’t even seen the film yet so what am I doing here? I came, I saw but how could I say mission accomplished when I didn’t even know what the mission was?


But it is quiet and soothing here. The trees on the farther side of the pond are in the rich and varied colours of autumn and the reflections of the willow trees emerging like silent sentinels out of the water invite contemplation.