Lady Vengeance DVD > Reviews > Sex. Murder. Art.

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Outstanding
Soundtrack	Outstanding

Advantages:	Stunning, entertaining
Disadvantages:	A 2 disc SE will surely come  .  .  .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

FILM:

(A.k.a. SYMPATHY FOR LADY VENGEANCE; MY LADY VENGEANCE; SHED TEARS FOR LADY VENGEANCE; CHINJEOLHAN GEUMJASSI)

Lee Guem-Ja (Yeong-ae Lee, JOINT SECURITY AREA) leaves prison after serving 13 years for the kidnap and suffocation of a young boy. She's greeted by a preacher at the prison gates, who has laid on a mini-choir in Santa suits to serenade her. The preacher, we are told via flashback, became enraptured by Guem-Ja's angelic looks when he saw a news article about her on his TV years ago. He has been her friend and spiritual confidante ever since.

Back in the present day, however, he's saddened when Guem-Ja rejects his offer of tofu (the eating of which is said to be symbolic of the subject's devotion to a life free from sin). Rather, she knocks the gift from his hand and tells him to "Go screw yourself". Adorning a pair of violet shades and strolling coolly into the horizon, LADY VENGEANCE has arrived.

As the story unfolds through flashbacks and stylish present-day interludes (including the frequent freeze-frame introductions of new characters), we learn that Guem-Ja may not have killed the boy after all, and was possibly covering for someone else.

Naturally, Guem-Ja's ultimate focus is on extracting revenge from the person she's done time for. But a reconciliation with her daughter forces her to change her tact.

It's unfair to give any more away - LADY VENGEANCE demands to be seen.

From the beautifully designed opening credits to the bittersweet snow-swept finale, LADY VENGEANCE is a feast for the eyes. It sounds great too, with classical music filling the gaps between explosive gunfire and profane dialogue.

The narrative is satisfyingly non-conventional, characters being introduced after we've met them, and people occasionally turning to face the camera to speak. There are flashbacks aplenty, all of which add to the milieu with humour, horror and gritty realism combining to make Guem-Ja's character a truly formidable yet sympathetic heroine.

There are a few surreal dream moments, akin to director Chan-wook Park's earlier OLDBOY, and clearly the theme is very similar. But this is an altogether different beast to that celebrated effort. It's arguably better too.

While LADY VENGEANCE lacks the excesses of OLDBOY's meatier moments, it is a film that is filled with emotionally engaging performances, a strong sense of religious symbolism and the most glorious cinematography you will ever see in a genre flick. Oh, and the action set-pieces - while not as hyperbolic as OLDBOY's are superbly orchestrated. Fantastic.

It's also proof that Chan-wook Park is at the top of his game. He playfully toys with filmic styles and storytelling conventions, knowing that he can rein it all in at any time and keep control. This is a master at the height of his confidence - having fun.

DISC:

Tartan's disc offers the film uncut in anamorphic 2.35:1 and it looks brilliant - a pristine transfer, as rich and vivid as you could possibly hope for. The audio, which offers options of the original Korean soundtrack in 2.0, 5.1 and 5.1 DTS, is equally superb. Removable English subtitles are also available.

Extras:

41-minute interview with Park, in Korean with English translator.

Theatrical trailer.

Trailers for BATTLE ROYALE 2, ANOTHER PUBLIC ENEMY and the sublime A BITTERSWEET LIFE.

The audio/video quality of the film, paired with an excellent director's interview, is reason enough to buy this disc from Tartan. LADY VENGEANCE is, after all, an instant classic. However, gut instinct suggests a 2 disc Special Edition may be lurking in the future ...! There's already one out on R3 (albeit with no subtitles on the extras!).

SUMMARY:

A fabulous movie - aesthetically perfect and thoroughly engaging to boot. The end may seem like a cop-out to some, but I appreciated it ... and it's a fitting finale to Park's so-called VENGEANCE trilogy.

Brilliant stuff, on a top rate disc. But ... should we save our pennies for the inevitable SE?