If you thought "World of Kanako" was disturbing, this movie takes disturbing and explicit to a whole new level. I haven't had such a hard time watching and digesting a movie in a long time. It is def. not for everyone and if you are looking for a movie to sit and watch after a long hard day at work, this is NOT it!
That being said, the acting department is fantastic.
I have a love-hate relation with Fumi Nikaido (I respect her as an actress and I love her role choices, but there s just something about her that gives me the creeps, if you know what I mean... there are just some people that I feel like rejecting at first sight, as if they make my skin crawl... and she was one of them). Her performance here is outstanding though, I am still shocked she went all in for this role and she deserves a bravery award LOL other than an acting one,of course.
As for Tadanobu Asano, he also created a memorable character. His Jungo made it to the top of my "Despicable Parents" list, yet it is hard to hate him (mind you it's almost impossible to sympathise with him). However his interactions with Fumi required great acting skills and the balance they managed to create in the end is as delicate as possible. It's not easy to draw the line between soft porn and art, I am sure many will dismiss the movie and their performance as the former... not that I care about the majority's opinion LOL
Anyway, I do think this is a movie worth watching, provided you pick the right time and you prepare yourself for a shocking experience, but memorable nevertheless!
9/10
REVIEW "Girls' Night Out" is the rather unfortunate translation of a title which couples the phonologically-similar terms for "Ladies'" and "Dinner Party". It was written and directed by first-time director Lim Sang-Soo (not to be confused with Hong Sang-Soo, who directed The Power of Kangwon Province). The film, together with An Affair, opened at the Pusan Film Festival and had its general release during Chusok weekend in September (a major weekend for film releases).
At its core the film combines nicely-paced editing with three women's brash discussions of sexual matters. Its visuals and dialogue caused a stir on its release, mostly for the overt manner in which they were presented. It was termed by some as feminist -- I don't really agree, nonetheless one of my (male) students said, "I didn't like it, but it taught me a little about women."
I read an interesting comment from a reader who compared this film to An Affair. She loved both movies equally, comparing the latter to "sweet Asian wine" and the former to "refreshing (Western) beer." The film does have a Western feel to it, with its Western-styled apartments, its music, and the character who decides to move to France to experience a more open society. It is more likely constructed for a Korean audience, however. It seems designed to shock and therefore force viewers to define their feelings about sex, by introducing topics that aren't usually discussed on the screen or on television. In doing so, perhaps the film will encourage viewers to reshape their attitudes towards themselves and towards others.
(Darcy Paquet)
Director Im Sang-soo:
For Us There Is No Today | Wooriegen Oneuli Ubda (2014)
Sleeping with the Enemy (2013)
The Taste of Money | Donui Mat (2012)
The Housemaid | Hanyeo (2010)
The Old Garden | Oraedoen Jeongwon (2007)
The President's Last Bang Geuddae geusaramdeul (2005)
A Good Lawyer's Wife | Baramnan Gajok (2003)
Tears Nunmul (2000)
Girls' Night Out Chunyudleui jeonyuksiksah (1998)
Writer Im Sang-soo
The Taste of Money | Donui Mat (2012)
The Housemaid | Hanyeo (2010)
A Woman in Paris | Pariui Yeoddeon Han Yeoja (2009)
The Old Garden | Oraedoen Jeongwon (2007)
The President's Last Bang Geuddae geusaramdeul (2005)
A Good Lawyer's Wife | Baramnan Gajok (2003)
Tears Nunmul (2000)
Girls' Night Out Chunyudleui jeonyuksiksah (1998)
Awards:
Best Director ("The Housemaid") - 2010 (12th) Cinemanila International Film Festival - December 1-5
2 
ENGLISH TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USdN3cyM_5w
REVIEW: http://twitchfilm.com/2014/05/jeonju-2014-review-the-avian-kind-is-a-grand-literary-mystery.html
TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uy--E9eobA
That being said, the acting department is fantastic.
I have a love-hate relation with Fumi Nikaido (I respect her as an actress and I love her role choices, but there s just something about her that gives me the creeps, if you know what I mean... there are just some people that I feel like rejecting at first sight, as if they make my skin crawl... and she was one of them). Her performance here is outstanding though, I am still shocked she went all in for this role and she deserves a bravery award LOL other than an acting one,of course.
As for Tadanobu Asano, he also created a memorable character. His Jungo made it to the top of my "Despicable Parents" list, yet it is hard to hate him (mind you it's almost impossible to sympathise with him). However his interactions with Fumi required great acting skills and the balance they managed to create in the end is as delicate as possible. It's not easy to draw the line between soft porn and art, I am sure many will dismiss the movie and their performance as the former... not that I care about the majority's opinion LOL
Anyway, I do think this is a movie worth watching, provided you pick the right time and you prepare yourself for a shocking experience, but memorable nevertheless!
9/10
SUBBED (ep 1-3): http://www.gooddrama.net/japanese-drama/keibuho-sugiyama-shintaro
SUBBED (ep 1-4): http://www.drama.net/keibuho-sugiyama-shintaro-kichijoji-sho-jiken-file/
At its core the film combines nicely-paced editing with three women's brash discussions of sexual matters. Its visuals and dialogue caused a stir on its release, mostly for the overt manner in which they were presented. It was termed by some as feminist -- I don't really agree, nonetheless one of my (male) students said, "I didn't like it, but it taught me a little about women."
I read an interesting comment from a reader who compared this film to An Affair. She loved both movies equally, comparing the latter to "sweet Asian wine" and the former to "refreshing (Western) beer." The film does have a Western feel to it, with its Western-styled apartments, its music, and the character who decides to move to France to experience a more open society. It is more likely constructed for a Korean audience, however. It seems designed to shock and therefore force viewers to define their feelings about sex, by introducing topics that aren't usually discussed on the screen or on television. In doing so, perhaps the film will encourage viewers to reshape their attitudes towards themselves and towards others.
(Darcy Paquet)
Director Im Sang-soo:
For Us There Is No Today | Wooriegen Oneuli Ubda (2014)
Sleeping with the Enemy (2013)
The Taste of Money | Donui Mat (2012)
The Housemaid | Hanyeo (2010)
The Old Garden | Oraedoen Jeongwon (2007)
The President's Last Bang Geuddae geusaramdeul (2005)
A Good Lawyer's Wife | Baramnan Gajok (2003)
Tears Nunmul (2000)
Girls' Night Out Chunyudleui jeonyuksiksah (1998)
Writer Im Sang-soo
The Taste of Money | Donui Mat (2012)
The Housemaid | Hanyeo (2010)
A Woman in Paris | Pariui Yeoddeon Han Yeoja (2009)
The Old Garden | Oraedoen Jeongwon (2007)
The President's Last Bang Geuddae geusaramdeul (2005)
A Good Lawyer's Wife | Baramnan Gajok (2003)
Tears Nunmul (2000)
Girls' Night Out Chunyudleui jeonyuksiksah (1998)
Awards:
Best Director ("The Housemaid") - 2010 (12th) Cinemanila International Film Festival - December 1-5