BREATHLESS

Korea, 2009, 130 minutes, Colour.
Yang Ik- Joon.
Directed by Yang Ik- Joon.

Watching Breathless is an overwhelming experience that, probably, most audiences would not want to submit themselves to. It is an almost unrelenting barrage of visual violence, mainly bashings, and a verbal assault of violently rough language. It is a Korean film, by director, Yang Ik- June, who is making his mark as a chronicler of petty gangsters and their standover-brutal tactics as they collect protection money. He also has a great deal to show about Korean family violence.

It may come as a surprise to find that Breathless won the SIGNIS award in Buenos Aires in 2009. Over the years, SIGNIS has found that there are many grim De Profundis films ('Out of the depths, I cry to you O Lord') and this must be the most De Profundis of all the awards.

As the film progresses and we have become weary of the brutish behaviour and wonder where it could lead, we begin to see faint possibilities for some kind of change, some redemption for the central character, Sang-hoon – who is played most convincingly by the director himself. The film opens with him bashing a violent man in the street as well as the prostitute the man is attacking. His work for his boss gives him the opportunity of an outlet for his rage. But, gradually, we see him with his nephew and his half-sister and his befriending a school girl who has stood up to his spitting at her and confronted him.

The girl also has a dreadful home life, keeping house for a mentally ill father who fought in Vietnam and is still cursing his dead wife, subjected to violence and humiliation by her perpetually angry brother.

It is only later that we are shown the events which have turned Sang-hoon into a raging bully. His friendship with the young girl starts to effect some changes in him, especially towards the father he has loathed after the deaths of his mother and sister and his serving a long jail sentence. There is a crucial scene where he meets the girl for a drink in the middle of the night and sobs.

There are no easy answers for the violent men but some hope for their victims.

We always acknowledge that there are huge family problems in most societies. This Korean expose is alarming, more alarming than most because it immerses us in the anger, in the raging loss of control that is, at times, literally, deadly.

1.The impact of the film? Korean society? Violence and brutality? The depths of suffering? Possibilities for redemption?

2.The Korean city, the streets and homes, restaurants, shops? The realistic atmosphere? Filmed on the streets of the city? The credibility of this setting for the action and characters? The musical score?

3.The title, the focus on Soon- Hang? The audience in response?

4.The introduction to the film and to Soon- Hang, the man bashing the girl in the street, his intervention, bashing the man, bashing the prostitute and telling her that she should not have given in to the man? The setting for his character? The visuals of his expression, sullen, introspective, rage?

5.His work, the protection racket? The genial boss, the collection of thugs, their work? Being hired out to bash the protesters at the university? The realistic filming of the clash? Soon- Hang and his beating his own men? The complaints of the boss? Soon- Hang and his always arriving late, his own boss?

6.The protection racket, Soon- Hang and the young assistant from high school, their going from place to place, the demands, the brutality, the fear of the shopkeepers? The collection of money, the envelopes and payment?

7.The encounter with the schoolgirl in the street, Soon- Hang and his spitting, her stopping, the confrontation, direct? The effect on him? Their talking? Exchanging numbers? Her criticism of his pager and his being technologically out of date? The later contacts? The effect on him of this friendship?

8.The girl, at home, housekeeping, going to school? Her brutal brother and his attacks, demands for money? The meals, her father, background in Vietnam, his scathing comments about his wife and her sexual behaviour? His paranoia? Thinking his wife was alive? His reactions to his daughter, condemnation of her? Tossing over the table and food? The girl’s patience in staying and looking after him? The lack of money, for the rent?

9.Soon- Hang and his nephew, playing with him in the street? His half-sister and the friendship? The buying of the mobile phone and her help? Delivering it? The meeting in the restaurant? His criticism of her being in contact with their father? With the boy and his relationship with his grandfather?

10.The violence and the flashbacks in this context? Soon- Hang and his father, the beating of his mother, the young girl, taking her to hospital, the vehicle accident? The deaths of both? The father going to prison, being released? Soon- Hang’s anger and rage?

11.The girl’s brother, his behaviour at home, womanising, violence? His going with his friend to the boss, getting the job, accompanying Soon-Hang? His seeming reticence in the face of the violence? The others’ reaction to him? The change, at home? The finale and his confrontation with Soon-Hang? Killing him?

12.Soon- Hang and his changing attitude, the friendship with the girl? Talking things over? Her challenging him? His half-sister? The boy? His wanting to opt out of his job? His continued violence, rage? His father’s attempted suicide? His change of heart, rushing to the hospital, wanting to give blood for his father’s transfusion?

13.His calling the girl at night, their having the beer in the open? Talking, his beginning to sob, lay his head in her lap, the transformation with the sobs? A turning point?

14.The plan to go to the little boy’s concert, the boss with the gift for the boy? The mother? The girl? His not turning up? The performance and the delight?

15.His death, lying in the street? What he had done to others? Yet the possibilities for a change of heart?

16.The flash forwards, the friendship between the group, centred on the nephew? His having brought these people together?

17.The film winning a Catholic award? De Profundis? Indications of a cry for hope?