About three weeks ago on Channel U Friday Late Night Korean Movie Special
Caught the 2002 acclaimed Korean movie, The Way Home, a story revolving around the relationship of a 7 year old city boy, Sang Wo, and his deaf and mute 78-year-old poor grandmother residing in the fast disappearing countryside.
The plot is at best a reinvention of a classic ritual: the gradual reform of a city brat touched by the loving kindliness of his old grandmother.
Yet, it is exactly the simplicity of the plot and message that sets this low budget production from the rest of the pack. In fact, I would argue the simplicity has but served to veil the film maker’s critique of city living. Time and again, the difference between city and country living is played up in the movie – how Sang Woo, hailing from Korean capital city is obviously blessed with and used to more material comforts than other kids living in the country neighbourhood. The contrast between the character attributes of a city boy against his countryside compatriots forces the audience to take a step back and reassess the traditional divide between ‘haves’ and have-nots’. At one end is the selfish, wilful and ungracious city boy obviously spoilt by the ills of capitalism. At the other is the generosity of country folk, willing to forgive, forget and share love and joy with the others.
We then question whether the material comforts of city living have served to numb our sensibility not only towards others but also to our inner needs.
The movie concludes on a note that seals this message: the brat finally learns to appreciate and reciprocate the kindness of his grandmother and neighbourly others. While this is no doubt a replay of a classic ending, the audience is no less touched by this self-discovery, perhaps more so as a result of the no frills approach in the story-telling and strong performance from the cast.
Seung-Ho Yu is perfectly convincing in his virgin reprisal of a silver screen role. As the wilful-turned-filial grandson, Sang Woo, Seung-Ho Yu is both exasperating and endearing. Plucked from total anonymity from the remote South Korean neighbourhood that sets the background of the movie, Eul-Boon Kim is delightful as the sweet and dedicated grandmother.
Some deem The Way Home as a surprise box office hit what with its total lack of commercialism. However, methinks this is totally unsurprising given how the movie has reached out with a universal theme that obviously tugs at the heartstrings of its audience. Ain’t it a given therefore The Way Home has become the first South Korean movie earmarked for a Hollywood remake.
References and further reading:
Interview with director, Lee Jeong Hyang.
More film reviews on Channel 4 and Blog Critics.