여보세요
(Yeoboseyo)
I am back writing a little introduction for, whom I believe is, highly unknown for our European film audience, the south Korean actor Kang-ho Song, and, in general, south Korean film industry. In the future I intend, together with the artist ZK, to extrapolate our incursion into south Korean cinematography and come back with lot of fun and good staff about it, drawings, paintings and illustrations from the movies themselves.
The first movie in which Kang-ho Song popped into my attention was actually my second south Korean movie “Memories of Murder”. The first movie I started my journey into this amazing world was “I saw the Devil”.
What was so special about these two movies that made me want more?
Simply everything!
The fact that they were neither the standard Hollywood movies, nor the so affected standard east European movies. They were something in between, special, authentic, original.
In a way, Korean movies are fearless. Imagine a person who is not afraid to show who he is. Someone so direct and genuine showing himself in open field, not being afraid of judgement. Their movies are actually many times unpredictable exactly from this perspective, of originality.
The first two striking thing that you might notice is a very special sense of humor and how real and warm they feel. And back to Kang-ho Song most of his roles are played with such a natural humor sense.
Kang-ho Song is the powerful top Korean actor of his generation that is still a gold reference after 20 years from his big screen debut. He has earned numerous awards for his unforgettable performances, being one of the most acclaimed actors in South Korea.
It’s his special ability to play every role in such a personal and powerful way, bringing the given characters at their best. Is his sense of humor, the so recognizable voice and way of talking, that even if you do not know Korean (my case) it makes him stand aside. It makes you actually want to learn Korean.
I will present bellow the movies that I have seen with his performance, though I intend to have a complete image of this incredible actor seeing all his movies.
I will leave a bare description only for three of his movies, coming back in a later article with more drawings and descriptions.
Memories of murder (2003)
Song plays the rural old-school detective, Park Doo-man, who chases after a serial killer. The story is based on real events, first known Korea’s serial murders. Though the characters and the tensions between them are pretty regular, the way they are played and directed make it is so special and different. This movie find itself on Tarantino’s favorite movies list.
The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008)
Full of style, fresh, explosive, humorous and extraordinary vibrant visual.
Set in 1930 in Manchurian desert, three Korean men find themselves chasing a treasure map.
Song provides nearly all effervescent film’s moments, a stunning performance.
A Taxi Driver (2017)
A drama based on actual events that are remembered directly or indirectly in many Korean movies. Is very clear how important was for their society this fight and struggle for democracy. I can only bow in respect for how social aware they are remembering to their youth again and again about this tragic moments.
Song is an ignorant taxi driver unaware of the political situation of that moment. The character development of Kim is so credible, so justified, so solid, that together with Song’s play it becomes almost overwhelming.
Other movies of Song that I’ve seen and will come back with more info:
Joint Security Area, The Age of Shadows, The Attorney, Snowpiercer,
The Secret Reunion, Thirst, The Host, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance,
Antarctic Journal, Ha-wool-ling.
