Director: Kim Ki-Duk

Producer: Kim Soon-Mo

Writer: Kim Ki-Duk

Cast: Ryoo Seung-bum, Young-Min Kim, Lee Won-Geun, Choi Gwi-Hwa, Jo Jae-Ryong, Ahn Ji-Hye

Running Time: 114 min.

By Matija Makotoichi Tomic

Filmography of Kim Ki-Duk could be the subject of many theories and endless discussions. Personally, I see it divided into two major phases: pre and post-Arirang one.

Arirang had that something I’ve been missing the whole time, and it had me admiring the man behind the camera, not just his films. Some may not agree, but Arirang is undoubtedly the greatest filmmakers confession ever witnessed on film and a proof Kim Ki-Duk is not only a great auteur who’s always been honest to his audience, but also a great man who’s (what’s even more important) always been true to himself.

The incident that happened on the set of his 2008 movie Dream really did leave a mark on guilt-ridden Ki-Duk both personally and profesionally, forcing him to suclude himself for a three-year period of solitude and repentance. The result was Arirang and a different Kim Ki-Duk. The meditative mood of Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring and the poetic violence of The Isle were gone. New Ki-Duk was angry and never so much in war with the world and himself. Moebius, his dialogue-free, blood-soaked family drama was the proof of that. One year after, he left us with a scene of a soldier beating up a guy sitting on a rock in lotus position. That image with its dual symbolism was almost like a self-portrait, an ending that gave no sense of the direction Kim Ki-Duk was going to take next.

His latest movie, The Net, was screened at this year’s 73rd edition of Venice Film Festival. For years now, Venice has a special place for Ki-Duk. After he won the Silver Lion award for best direction in 2004. for 3-Iron and Golden Lion award in 2012. for Pieta, in 2013. Moebius was invited to the festival in the Out of competition section and in 2014. One on One was the opening film of Venice Days. This year, The Net had its world premiere as part of the new programme held in the newly opened Sala Giardino. Kim Ki-Duk came to Venice and was present at the press screening, but unfortunately stayed for two days only and was long gone by the time his film was scheduled for public screening.

Geumul tells a story of Nam Chool-Woo, poor North Korean fisherman who accidentally drifts into South Korean territorial waters after his fishing net gets wrapped around his boat’s propeller. In South Korea he is immediatelly interrogated under the suspicion of being a spy, and no better destiny expects him upon his long-awaited return home to his family.

Little could anyone expect, but much like Park Chan-Wook’s Joint Security Area, new film by Kim Ki-Duk deals with the problematic relationship between the two neighboring Koreas, only this time the border in question is that on water. The title of the movie appears over the fence which surrounds the road leading to Seoul. The net from the title however, is not the one with which the fish is caught, this time, it is the fisherman who gets trapped. Kim Ki-Duk’s message is clear and straightforward: the capitalism of South Korea is every bit as absurd as the dictatorship of North Korea and the ones that get stuck in the political ideology are the people. His characters would love to have a beer together but that won’t be possible until the two countries reunite. In the beautiful scene where the fisherman is talking to the young South Korean agent, he asks why aren’t people from South Korea happy when they have their freedom? The answer he got is even better than his question: “The more light there is, the greater the shadow.“

Films made by Kim Ki-Duk were never a fun watch. They are dark, brutal and hard-hitting, far from the stylish genre pieces or the big-budget blockbusters that made South Korea the Hollywood of Asia. This one is no different. Kim Ki-Duk digs up the dirt underneath the shiny facade of Korean society once again and the way he does it is masterful and beautiful to watch. With directing so precise and full of confidence, it takes no more than a few shots for Ki-Duk to set the mood and lay out the plot basis. Before you know it, he’s right there where his place of interest is delivering a forceful drama, wonderful and touching yet not deprived of humor. Style was never his tool of trade, but a by-product of his sincere storytelling which often results in technical rawness. This one continues to walk the same path: the shaky cam in the outdoor scenes, the shadow of the camerman in one shot, the difference in the video quality between shots, it’s all there.

Ryoo Seung-Bum marked his first collaboration with Kim Ki-Duk in The Net. Well known Korean movie star made famous by his brother, great director Ryoo-Seung Wan, is perhaps not the obvious choice, but though the role of Nam Chool-Woo differs from the ones he is accustomed to, his performance is amazing. The character of the fisherman he created is quite lovable and will make you feel sorry for him when he’s being beaten up and ill-treated, but also put a smile on our face once he finaly delivers justice as promised.

If you’re not a fan of political themes, let me be the first to say, neither am I. Still, it would be a mistake not to watch The Net on that account. Kim Ki-Duk is back with a great movie that reminds of his old days, dark and bitter but with a surprising aftertaste that resembles hope. I’m sure that true fans won’t be dissapointed.

Matija Makotoichi Tomic’s Rating: 10/10