Seopyeonje

Just like its Chinese brother 'Huang tu di' by Chen Kaige is 'Sopyonje' driven forward by its songs, but unlike the former is not the content of the songs most important, the art of the singing is. This art is called pansori, and is a Korean tradition with cousins in China and Japan. In 'Chiwaseon' did I'm Kwon-Taek portray the mad drunken master of a special calligraphy school, here he portrays the mad father that refuses to let go of the art as new times are dawning and has ambitions higher than anyone could accomplish and end up hurting his closest.

I'm Kwon-Taek is a true master at display here. Granted that you are interested in these arts, this movie will hold a strong grip on you from beginning to end by the power of its songs. The lead actress did an amazing job full of emotion through small gestures. Now, please get me one of those scrolls and a record of pansori, please.

This is one of the best films about the Blues that I have ever seen. I defy you to find a member of the Hoary Tarnation of Blues, Delta, Mississippi, USA, that wouldn't spit, squint up at you and say, "Dang! That is the Blues!" Verdad! And while I'm exclaiming away, I swear to you that as I sat in our little local art house theater the audience just let the tears stream when they must with complete abandon. With no shame. Now there is some eastern magic.

The film begins in an interesting way. The style is clearly modern and places the story distant from a medieval or fantasy era. The young actor's (Kyu-chul Kim) style however hearkens to the older traditions in Korean Theater. And soon his search fades into the story of his emotional roots. The film doesn't make an obvious judgment about the 'life' of these three people or their domination by their father-mentor. Yet the film challenges you to decide if his assumption to rule these growing children is culturally acceptable or extraordinary even in their world at large.

There is a scene in a pension when the song master (Myung-gon Kim) becomes very drunk and garrulous. It is at once hilarious, tense and pathetic. Another, when the itinerants are walking with back packs in the middle of nowhere and begin a spontaneous dancing walk as they go along their way. These are glowing moments in cinema. The productions values are good and keep you placed always on the edge of the wild.

And then the music! This is the blues. Truly, I can say no more.

Every time you look at this wonderful movie, be sure not to be disturbed by anything or by anyone. Especially if you are looking for the first time! In this case, it may be you find it boring for a short while, but don't you dare to give up! You must realize that the "slow motion" of this movie and the long silences are exactly some of the characteristics that make it one of the most wonderful movies I ever saw. You WILL find extraordinary contrasts at certain times. IN ANY CASE, KEEP CONCENTRATED AND CONTINUE LOOKING TILL THE VERY END!! You will not regret! I am a man, 55 years old, father of two big boys, and I am not ashamed to say that every time I look at this movie a few tears run over my cheeks... Thank you so much, I'm Kwon Taek !

One of the very best films to come out of South Korea. SOPYONJE tells the tale of pansori singers trying to survive in a world that no longer cares about them. The plight of the pansori singers is an allegory for traditional South Korea, a country being overrun by modernization and the Western world in the aftermath of World War II.

The film's soundtrack alone is worth watching. I've never heard such haunting and beautiful singing in my life. Truly, a masterpiece that deserves to be remembered.

10 out of 10

(go to www.nixflix.com for a more detailed review of this film and reviews of other foreign movies)

Sopyonje brought me to my knees before a tradition that previously was unknown to me - pansori. The power, tenderness, and pain that lies in art, in life, longing, and the music was conveyed in full force and with beauty. I couldn't directly understand the Korean words (subtitled) that were spoken or the songs that were sung, but i could feel and was in awe of the emotions especially in the second half of the movie. I can still hear the melodies, voice, and the drum.