Good Story Telling - A Short Intro to Korean Movies

I love a good story. I really love good story telling. It is an art that I got a glimpse of long ago when I took acting lessons (http://ahoosierinkorea.blogspot.com/2011/10/million-strangers-with-million-stories.html). Whether sitting around a campfire or in front of a 60 inch TV, a good story is just a joy. In today's post I hope to convince you to experience some Korean story telling. It can be really good.

In 2010 I had the privilege of meeting an independent movie maker who is Korean American. He had just completed a short film entitled Underground Sonata (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRaaBiRo5Lo). A detective reunites with a long lost love. Unfortunately, that reunion is the result of an illegal weapons sting; his lost love has become a weapon trafficker. That is a really good premise, but what I really loved about this short was the way the story was told. Using cut scenes and flashbacks, the characters were developed without disturbing the rhythm of the movie. I think having only 14 minutes and a shoestring budget actually helped this process. He had to be extremely efficient which necessitated a lot of creativity. Or perhaps his creativity resulted in an efficient story line. Regardless of cause and effect, it is a really good short that I highly recommend (http://www.amazon.com/Underground-Sonata-Arun-Storrs/dp/B003OUXH94/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327331103&sr=8-1).

The reason I relate the Underground Sonata short is not because the film maker is Korean American. It is because when you have limited resources you can not afford to lose track of the story. I enjoy a good block buster with explosions, chase scenes, and great special effects, but those movies run the risk of focusing on those special effects at the expense of telling the story. My sampling is not that large but the Korean movies that I have seen to date are simple stories that are beautifully done. Like Underground Sonata, the focus is on the story.

I have already described in a previous post a scene from the 2010 movie Come, Closer (A Million Strangers with a Million Stories, part 1) in which a Korean woman listens to a random stranger on the phone  (http://www.hancinema.net/korean_movie_Come_v__Closer.php#pictures). I loved that scene. I don't know much about the rest of the movie since there were no English subtitles. Here is a link to the trailer (with English subtitles): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMsmKX9B0ws). A note about the subtitles - sometimes the translation is not perfect. I actually like that since it forces me to interpret what is meant. I can't be a passive observer.

The next movie can be watched completely on youtube with English subtitles. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring is a 2003 movie by Kim Ki-duk. This movie shows five different phases in the life of a Buddhist monk, but not in a way you would expect. Quoting Kim Ki-duk, "I intended to portray the joy, anger, sorrow and pleasure of our lives through four seasons and through the life of a monk who lives in a temple on Jusan Pond surrounded only by nature." I think you will be surprised that this is a modern day story.

The movie is very slow yet rather abrupt. The scenery is spectacular. Roger Ebert put this movie on his great movie list. I was only so-so about it until the final scenes which sent shivers down my spine. As I write this post, I have watched some of the scenes again. I missed a lot of the analogies the first time. And I am sure I am still missing many more. That is okay. It is a good story. Here is a link to get you started: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l60PamQWMZA

The next movie is another Kim Ki-duk movie called 3 Iron. Do not google this movie or Kim Ki-duk for that matter. There is an extraordinary scene in this movie. It is so extraordinary that it is hard not to see the scene or a particular image from the scene before watching the movie. In the opening scene a guy goes around posting flyers on house hold doors. Those flyers that aren't removed become targets for him to rob since no one is home. This is a thief of hearts story and that is all I will say about it. Here is a link to the opening scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5oN6IMV8g8

The last movie I will talk about today is a 2011 movie by Choi Ik-hwan entitled Mama which can also be seen with English subtitles on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgnZC5pAwEY). This movie is about the relationships of three mothers with their sons or daughters. This is one of the most touching movies I have ever seen. The opening scene shows pictures in a photo album. As the pages are turned, we see pictures of moms in various stages of their lives with the following captions:

Some one who drives me crazy (the page turns)

Who fills me with fear (the page turns)

Who's thrifty (the page turns)

Who prefers cash to flowers (another picture)

Who only likes my brother (another page)

Who loves me more than I love myself (the page turns again)

Who embarrasses me (yet again)

Whom I don't want to resemble (the page turns)

The first word of a lifetime (the page turns)

MAMA

I hope from those captions you can sense a degree of surprise. Not everything is positive and not every story has a happy ending... or maybe it does. I find it hard to predict what will happen in these movies.

One of the things I really like about movies (and stories in general) is how universal they are. We all share the same dreams, fears, troubles, and joys. I do not get the sense that these movies are made to make a lot of money. They seem to be made to tell a story. And they do it very well. As such, they have brought me great joy. I hope the same will go for you. Here's to good story telling no matter what the language.

When One Door Closes... (Bizarre Twists part 2)

I used to believe in fate. I liked the idea of a grand plan in which I played an important role. Life was simply me trying to figure out that role. I'm still working on that role, but I have given up on the grand plan. Instead, there are a million different paths that lead to some extraordinary experiences.

Today's post is a result of having lost a basketball game (http://ahoosierinkorea.blogspot.com/2011/09/im-mercenary-bizarre-twists-part-1.html). I was rather upset and venting to whomever was in earshot.

"Our department has no representation on Sports Day."

"There is always the talent show," said a secretary in the business office. "I've signed up to do a belly dance."

I immediately asked her if she needed backup dancers. You see, I have always wanted to be a 'Pip'. That might sound strange until you watch Gladys Knight and the Pips perform 'Midnight Train to Georgia' (especially at the 1:10 mark, woo hoo!).

Once she agreed I was off to find partners in crime. I already knew my Japanese colleague could dance (see http://ahoosierinkorea.blogspot.com/2011/11/when-in-doubt-high-five-strangers-and.html). Another colleague had suffered a similar 'coaching' experience on the soccer field; he was in. We pressured our Iranian friend to join. Whenever he wants to make a strong statement he says, "Thank you very much!" as he puts his arm straight out with his hand up to signal there is nothing more to be said. We all do that now. We also took advantage of the new post-doc from Ghana. What can I say? He was new.

It turned out that our lead dancer is quite talented and modified a dance to a very popular K-pop song, 'Roly Poly'. We had a week to prepare. I was warned the first practice might be strenuous. It was definitely hilarious. Teaching us was like herding cats.

And then a miracle happened. Sports day was canceled due to weather. Too bad because we had gotten quite good (yeah, right.) Anyway, two weeks later the Brain Science Institute had a retreat to promote closer interactions between the various departments. The retreat was out in the boonies with traditional Korean accommodations (you sleep on the floor).

I actually had a really good time. There was one science talk, one Korean folk music talk (in Korean), a poster session, an adventure trail, a version of paint ball, and of course a talent show.

High bridge leading to a zip line

Paintball without paint in a fake city with real cars

We signed up for the talent show. There had been rumors that another dance group was doing the same song, but one of them hurt her knee so they didn't perform. There were two other entrants, a band performing Justin Bieber and a soloist violin player. We were the final act. After our lead dancer did her belly dance, this is what followed (note: our Iranian dropped out. I really can't blame him).

I love the posters in the background. We won 50,000 won gift certificates for our efforts. I don't think the Koreans have laughed that hard in a long time. The crowd started chanting encore, but we were having too much fun backstage showing off our winnings.

Needless to say, we were a huge hit. A few weeks later another talent show was announced to mark the anniversary of the institute. This time we prepared another song just in case the audience wanted another encore. I think it is safe to say that we were quite taken with ourselves.

Our new song was another K-pop song that translates to 'Having an affair'. It starts off with a phone call. In Korea there are several mascot balloons used in advertising whose arms flail about to get your attention. I mention that to sort of explain the next video.

This effort won us 100,000 won gift certificate. We are no longer considered amateurs. I think that is rather obvious (I hope the sarcasm translates here). I do fear for the future of the group. I'm considering a solo endeavor (those guys are just holding me back). And of course there is the documentary of when scientists go bad.

Anyway to wrap things up, it amazes me how losing a basketball game set off quite a series of events. Sometimes a loss results in a win. When one door closes, another door opens. Good God, close that door quickly. Those guys think they can dance.  I would have been such a good 'Pip'.