FILM: Bakjwi (Thirst) (2009)

[Brónach 1,330]

Despite what might seem at first sight because of the amount of failed efforts, fantasy films are probably in pretty good shape. In the last few years we have seen a list of jewels, some by known filmmakers, some that came from nowhere. But, as with everything else, the films one might really enjoy aren't going to magically get to your door: you have to look for them.

When it comes to vampires, many remember the endearing Låt den rätte komma in (Thomas Alfredson, 2008) We should add to that this one film by Park Chan-wook, titled Bakjwi and known as Thirst in some places. A quite different kind of film, but another story about vampires that manages to create some fresh angle and make it work. I have to say, it's the first film by this director I've seen, and I'm eager to check out his other work.

Bakjwi tells the story of a priest who becomes a vampire by accident and subsequently gets into trouble for the general amusement of the audience. But this film is really a love story. Now, I’m not a fan of love stories. Most of the times they just put me off. But once in a while someone comes and makes a story about a couple of people and adds elements to it so it actually becomes a story that works wonderfully. This Thirst doesn’t only work, it’s fun, it’s catchy, it’s vibrant, and it knows how to be sad. (I'm tired of forced emotions everywhere.)

I have to say, I like Song Kang-ho. I’ve seen him previously in Gwoemul (Bong Hoon-ho, 2006). Here he plays a very different character, somewhat stoic, and sometimes makes us wonder what he’s thinking. This is a character that remains familiar while able to surprise us, someone with good intentions initially that ends up under under too much pressure. On the other hand the young Kim Ok-bin offers a chilling perfomance as a very interesting character and at the same time kind of classic.

The director clearly has an style and I was already loving it half an hour into the film. Lots of beautiful camera movements and clever planification. Park puts great scene after scene and builds and builds in a sober manner towards an absolutely spine tingling ending part where a complicated situation is reduced to its purest expression.

While seeing films from these parts of the world it strikes that they might have a different perception of genres. In any case, a film like Bakjwi shows what can happen when creative people work without being expect to stick to the formulae of a given tradition, and try to make it more lifelike, which is something I particularly enjoy. Truth is, both sides can be very difficult. But as Alan Moore put it: “Life isn’t divided into genres. It’s a horrifying, romantic, tragic, comical, science-fiction cowboy detective novel. You know, with a bit of pornography if you're lucky.”