Gull
At the heart of Kim Mi-jo’s debut feature is a violent assault we never see, though its effects ripple across the face of O-bok (played with ruthless tragedy by Jung Ae-hwa). The film’s quiet verité style never shies away from ugliness, forcing viewers to grapple not only with the sexual violence at its center, but also with mounting gender and socioeconomic pressures for Korean women. There is little catharsis, although Kim’s work finds what comfort it can in simmering rage.
Jung Ae-hwa
- Notes From Ed LachmanA film from a young bold Korean female director that deals with the taboos of speaking out against the grain of South Korean social issues and mores. It deals with a mother and wife who wouldn’t sacrifice herself to support her family’s ambitions by not reporting a horrific rape that she’s been part of—she’s compelled to expose it.