I just got back from a screening of this film at the Apollo Cinema Piccadilly in London, which was followed by a Q&A session with the director, Yim Soon-rye from Korea. In Korean film circles, she is fairly well-known, and probably is the only known female Korean director, and certainly the best. Why her latest film, Rolling Home With a Bull, was not better received is beyond me. I know that it was a fairly low- budget, independent effort (as most of her other films are), but it has at least one popular actor in Gong Hyo-jin who plays the female supporting character in the film (there's also a nice performance by the poor bull, and the lead actor is likable). Perhaps it was overlooked due to a documentary about a cow that was released in South Korea not too long before this fictional film. I heard that this movie was based on a Buddhist novel and the story retains strong themes from the philosophy of Buddhism. Some of the symbolism and dream sequences may go over people's heads, but it is probably worth it to watch the movie again if you didn't 'get' everything the first time. Rolling Home with a Bull (perhaps not the most attractive title for a film) is nonetheless a funny, sad, and even enlightening experience. Many scenes had the audience in stitches, and at times, close to tears. Fortunately, it's a breath of fresh air to watch something that does not have excessive scenes of sex or violence. There is some foul language, however, but it is usually used in a humorous manner. 4 out of 5 stars, and the best film I've seen by this director (I also recommend 'Forever the Moment').
