Breathless (2009)

WARNING: this film is for adults it has a lot of swearing & violence.

OK now to the film itself it came on TV & I decided to record & watch later. I don't think I would have have heard of this movie on MDL etc. & got round to watching it thanks to FilmFour.

The story is about Sang Hoon, a debt collector & thug. On the face of it he is a vicious low life & a thoroughly unlikeable character....that is, until we get to know his back story and see glimpses of his vulnerability behind the tough guy façade. He meets a schoolgirl by a chance violent encounter and they form an unlikely friendship. She too is living a wretched and solitary existence and these two kindred spirits find solace with each other.

This film is an unrelenting, brutal and visceral tour de force. I would not recommend it to the faint hearted. The main actor, Yang Ik June, was simply outstanding in his role. I had seen him in a supporting role in Innocent Man, but in this he was so impressive, no hammy over acting like a lesser actor might have done. He played the role with a calm desperation, its like he became Sang Hoon.

There is very little music/OST in this film and I think that just adds to the gritty realism of this film.

My re-watch score is (as always) low this is not a reflection of the film but the fact that I rarely ever re-watch.

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On the international stage, South Korean cinema has earned something of a reputation for “extreme violence.” Whether or not that distinction is deserved, one often sees the prolific works of such directors as Park Chan Wook touted as supporting examples. So when one then stumbles across Breathless, they may wander past expecting: “This again?” But while it may be another unapologetically violent offering, this film promises a wealth more than transient punches and colorful swears. You see, Breathless sheds light on a societal issue forgotten and more often overlooked—that of domestic violence, and how the disenfranchised among us are often broken again and again on its vicious wheel.

When we first meet Sang Hoon, he rescues a woman being beaten on the street—only to turn on her himself moments later. This is the stunning first in a series of reversals the viewer can expect of this man, our “hero”; he reveals himself to be every bit a hateful brute, the quintessential ruthless debt collector. What makes Breathless brilliant is the ability to portray such a vicious shell, even while opening it to reveal the victim hidden inside. This aspect is helped along by the inclusion of a second plot thread, that of a student Sang Hoon bonds with over the course of the film. They may never speak of their individual struggles, but their stories are a sad parallel of the other. Perhaps this is why they are able to find peace together, if even for a little while. All they have otherwise are little moments of release found in copious cursing…or in Sang Hoon’s case, a fight wherever and whenever.

Would you believe me if I told you this was a debut film? Had I not known going in, I might not myself. This is a first effort by Yang Ik Joon, who wrote, directed, produced, and even starred in the film. What a massive undertaking for a new director this was; how many can boast their first shot at something was just about perfection?

In his capacity as Sang Hoon, Yang Ik Joon maintains a powerful performance all across the board. I honestly couldn’t imagine a better fit for the part, as natural and believable as he is. Perhaps it helps that Yang wrote the character (and thus would be more deeply informed as to his “heart”), but that would be selling his obvious talent short. There’s something to be said about an actor who is as visceral, as real, as this one. Otherwise you’ve got Jung Man Shik doing his thing as one of the best supporting actors around, and talented Kim Kkobi in one of her first roles. Her scene chemistry with Yang Ik Joon is incredible, but even on her own she nearly had me crying more than once. An excellent, excellent cast.

Please be warned that this film contains depictions of violence, including serious instances against women. Though much of the darker stuff happens off-screen, it’s enough that one will want to be careful. Those sensitive to swearing should also take notice, because pretty much every other sentence has…well, something.

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I almost gave up on this senseless violence. Unnecessary swearing and abuse that simply perpetuated violence against women and in front of children. However, after Sang Hoon makes his rounds of violently collecting debt, there's a raw & believable broken spirit to his anti-hero antics. Some characters you love and some you hate, and you can't make up your mind with the rest. An environment where two main families cope with violence as the norm and core factor in their relationships. I can't say I was surprised towards the end, but anticipating that type of pain didn't make it feel any lighter. This film has a slow steady pace and it won't be for everyone. I'm glad I was patient.

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"Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom, not a guide by which to live." - Robert Kennedy

This is a tale of two broken people trying to hold it together in two different ways.

I thought I wouldn't be able to watch this because of all the violence (especially the unnecessary amount against women) but I found myself unable to take my eyes off the screen. Yes, some scenes were hard to watch, but for once it didn't feel entirely gratuitous. We're constantly, brutally reminded of how both the main characters lead their lives and deal with what comes.

This movie won't give you much of a break, and I wouldn't be surprised if it left you feeling slightly drained afterwards. It's somewhat of an emotional roller-coaster. You'll be grimacing, crying and laughing, all within the space of a few minutes.

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Characters

Sang Hoon is the gangster you hate to love. His actions (and profanity used in almost every sentence) show you that time and time again, this dude is not a good person. He's pretty indiscriminate when it comes to who he hits. Hitting is all he knows. But violence begets violence.
Despite all this, you'll sympathize with him.

Yang Ik an amazing job portraying his character. He really outdid himself. I don't have enough words to give this man the praise he deserves for his role here. I was honestly rooting for his character after a while and THAT shocked me.

Yeon Hee is the high school student who strikes up a very unlikely friendship with Sang Hoon. She's a character you'll have no trouble feeling sorry for. She gives as good as she gets when it comes to profanity matches between her and Sang Hoon. The chemistry between these two is pretty great, it felt extremely natural for them to suddenly strike up a bond.

Kim Kkobi's acting made me feel so tense every time she walked through that damn door to her characters house. Every emotion she felt, I felt. I really can't think of any actress that could have suited the role more.

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Soundtrack

The music was very subtle, which suited the movie perfectly. It wasn't outstanding, but this kind of movie doesn't need heavy background music.

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Rewatch

I would watch this again if I felt seriously masochistic. This is one of those movies that you watch once and it has an impact on you forever. And even though watching it again would feel like a daunting task for my emotions, I could see myself doing it anyway.

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Overall

I heard that some people thought this movie had a slow build, and I guess it sort of does, but I never once felt like it outstayed its welcome. Once again though, it's filled with dark themes and unsettling imagery. And that doesn't stop. So if that kind of thing makes you extremely uncomfortable, this isn't for you.

But it'll make you wonder about the vicious circle of violence. Where does it end?
This movie touched me more than I thought it would, and I hope it has the same effect on you.

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Rage

I think the title of this movie should be "Rage" or "Berserk". Because that's all you get in its 2 hr and 10 minute run time. Pure unadulterated rage and its traumatizing effects. And cursing. Lots and lots of cursing. As a matter of fact, I think this movie has to hold the world record for the amount of cursing ever committed to celluloid. Literally every other phrase contains the following words: B***, F***, C***, and bastard. The main character will utter these words every single time he speaks. These 4 words are the extent of his vocabulary. The other characters do their very best to keep up with the main character's cursing. Its like they're in an alternate reality where those are the only four words humans know how to speak.

I know I've gone on quite a bit about the amount of cursing but if you see this movie you will realize I am not kidding.

The movie is well acted but I won't be watching this again. Its too bleak and depressing.

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