Upon realising that "3 Iron" was by the same director who made the enchanting "Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring!" I decided that it was excuse enough to see Ki-duk Kim's most recent international offering.
Based in what I presume is Seoul, South Korea, a young man rides around on a surprisingly new BMW motorbike. Not surprising in itself until you swiftly discover that he does not seem to have a home to go to. By using the age old "leaving fliers on peoples' front door" trick he establishes which houses are unoccupied and then enters, staying in each place for as long as he is able. This dubious practice is moralised by his lack of theft from the homes he stays in, not only that he makes repairs and only eats scraps from the fridge.
Such is his life until one day he breaks into a house, seemingly devoid of life, only to later discover a traumatised wife hiding there - awaiting her cruel husbands return. He rescues her and eventually she willingly partakes of his unconventional lifestyle.
This is a slow moving but involving film, in much the same way as Kim's previously mentioned work is. Essentially investigating the relationship between only two people. This time in a modern setting rather than a floating temple! Kim, who also wrote the screenplay for this film, saved himself rather a lot of time by making the two main characters silent, despite the best efforts of the supporting characters to attempt to make them talk!
Simply shot and with a elements of the supernatural creeping in (as in SSAWS) this is an intriguing little film at less than 90 minutes long. I shall endeavor to watch Hwal when it is released in this country.
**** (out of 5)
