Beyond Parasite: South Korean Films to Watch
After winning the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 92nd 2020 Academy Awards Ceremony, Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite not only demonstrated that a non-American film is capable of winning such an award, but that South Korean films are something everyone should watch out for. With a diverse range of incredible films, South Korean cinema has tackled every genre from romance to thriller, to horror and is soon to release what is regarded as South Korea’s first blockbuster. As well as being a film with a range of emotions, symbols, and motifs, Parasite has become a great introduction to South Korean Cinema. So, if you enjoyed this extraordinary film, I highly suggest you check out the following films. Keep in mind that there is so much more to South Korean cinema and that this list should only serve as an introduction, to satisfy the film lover’s curiosity. This list is spoiler-free!
1. Snowpiercer (2013)
Now, one might think that this is technically cheating, since its cast aren't all South Korean actors. However, this Bong Joon-ho film is worth checking out for anyone who enjoyed Parasite. Snowpiercer is a South-Korean and Czech collaborative adaptation of the French graphic novel, Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob. It's a dark Science Fiction film that brings the viewer to a future where in the efforts to reverse climate change, governments have launched an engineering breakthrough, only for it to backfire and create a new ice age, ending all life, except those who have boarded a train that runs all around the world, in the hopes that one day the ice will melt. The film tackles topics of class inequalities, survival, and propaganda, as the characters who live at the very back of the train experience inhumane conditions, embark on a long-awaited revolution to get to the engine room of the train, and ultimately gain control. While this is a dark and thrilling film, (which some believe could be the sequel to Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory [1971]), it is actually set in 2030, the now very near future. Therefore the issues tackled may resonate more with the current state of the world than the time when the film was made. It's worth the watch, especially if you wish to explore more of Bong Joon-ho’s films.
2. The Handmaiden (2016)
This film is edited in a non-traditional narrative style that has the narrative jumping across different time frames. It tells the beautiful and complex story of Kim Tae-ri and Lady Hideko, and is described as an erotic, psychological thriller that explores queer themes. This multi-layered film is set during the period of Japanese colonial rule in Korea. It's one of those films where you initially think you know where it’s heading, but ultimately you have no idea. Thanks to the structure of the narrative, each part of the film reveals something new and as time switches back and forth it culminates into something beautiful. Expertly shot, with costumes that blend styles of the West and Japanese colonial rule, the film pulls the audience into its setting. Furthermore, each layer adds to the characters' personalities, wants, and needs, making sure we root for the right people for the right reasons, without leading us to believe the characters are perfect. In fact, their imperfections are perhaps the source of the film’s beauty. At the time of its release, this film gave critics a lot to talk about, as its portrayal in mainstream media reshaped queer cinema in South Korea. Whether this film does a good job with its interpretation is up to the viewer, but nevertheless, this film is filled with many wonders, and is, I must confess, a personal favourite.
3. Swing Kids (2018)
Swing dance, the Korean War, surprising friendships, David Bowe, tearjerker - these are just a few words that I can use to describe this film. For those interested in catching a glimpse of Korean history, this film is for you. This is one of those films that are hard to categorize, for it dances between several different genres; sometimes it’s a musical, sometimes it’s a comedy, and sometimes it’s a tragic melodrama. Swing Kids will certainly play with your emotions as it follows an American officer named Jackson and his tap dance crew, which consists of a soldier who wishes to become famous in order to find his wife, a Chinese soldier who suffers from chronic chest pain, a translator who needs money, and a North Korean soldier played by Doh Kyung-soo (K-pop fans will recognize him!). Set in a prison camp during the Korean War in 1951, this visual roller-coaster plays with shots, sound transitions, and masterfully uses them to cover the several genres and emotions that the movie explores. Swing Kids is a glimpse into the hardships of the Korean War and reminds us how ultimately, it was a war on ideology that separated the Korean people.
4. Train to Busan (2016)
This one is for the horror and Science Fiction fans. More specifically, if you have been craving a good zombie movie, then this one's for you. I won’t get into the details of how it even happens since there is so much more to the story - there’s a sequel but it doesn't have the same characters. The film follows a divorced father and his young daughter who board a train to Busan, but the trip takes an unexpected turn when an infected passenger boards the train and begins biting people. This movie is terrifying and exhilarating, and it will truly keep you at the edge of your seat. It's hard not to root for every character in this film; you’ll find yourself wanting everyone to survive and be okay. The amazing action sequences, breath stopping moments, and maybe a tear shed here and there, set Train to Busan aside as a zombie movie that doesn’t neglect human nature, family bonds, human connections and emotions.
5. A Taxi Driver (2017)
Another glimpse at a different point in Korean history, this heart touching film follows a taxi driver, (Kang Ho-Song from Parasite), who accidentally finds himself driving a German reporter to Gwangju, where the city is surged by soldiers during the Gwangju Uprising on 1980. The film is not only a historical adaptation of real-life events - German Reporter, Jürgen Hinzpeter, actually covered the story with the help of the taxi driver, Kim Man-Seob and helped to share what was going on in the area to the rest of the world - but it also tackles the universal topics of resistance, hope, and bravery. Moreover, the film deals with issues of censorship and media coverage, something we still see to this day all around the world. I'm not going to lie - this movie will likely make you cry, but it will also make you smile at this inspiring friendship. This movie has a wonderful cast and great pacing. The entire time you'll hope that things will turn out well, but perhaps the best part of this movie is that while we do find out what happens with the characters at the end, foreign viewers must research what happened with the Gwangju Uprising if they want to know its outcome, which makes this film a great intro to a part of South Korean history. However, even if learning history is not in your interest, this film still does an incredible job of telling a story of bravery that still ties up very nicely at the end. This film was a nominee for Best Foreign film at the 90th academy awards.
South Korean cinema is full of wonders, both modern and classics that have demonstrated that South Korea can be, and in its own right, a cinematic powerhouse. Whilst this list does not by any means capture all of these films, hopefully it provides an introduction for you to delve into the world of South Korean cinema.