Train To Busan (Spoiler Alert)
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2016 12:01 am
One of the things I like about forums, is that I can expand on a blog posting, Doing a review on a movie I have to be very careful that while reviewing a film I do not give away anything that is not covered in the trailer. Since people have to actively click on a forum post they are aware ahead of time there may be spoilers.
I wanted to take the opportunity to discuss my feelings on Train To Busan. Even though I thought the movie was over hyped, and flat in allot of parts, as with most Asian cinema you have to look at the film as a whole, to determine the main point the director is trying to convey to the audience. Often times it is not as cut and dry as in American films, and everything is usually neatly wrapped up neatly by the end of the movie.
On the surface Train To Busan is your run of the mill zombie apocalypse film, but under the surface is a very interesting critique of ever day Korean like, and social hierarchy and structure. From the hero Seok Woo, who personifies the typical Korean salary man, who is so busy at work that he virtually abandoned his family, leading to the estrangement and divorce of his wife, and his daughter Soo an who on her birthday terribly misses her mother who lived in Busan. Which sets the stage for the last minute train ride to go see her. Soo-an is ever mindful as a young girl in a strict hierarchal society throughout the movie, as evident in her offering the jump seat on the KTX to an elder even as they are running for their life from the infected passengers trying to get to them.
We also see the resentment between the blue collar Sang Hwa and Seok Woo, who at first addresses him with scorn and division believing him to be only interesting in his welfare, and taking other peoples money, this is exchanged in a inappropriate and potentially awkward exchange between him and Soo-An. Soo-an takes it in stride, and replies, "That is what everyone says." This early scorn is set aside as Seok Woo becomes indebted to Sang Hwa for saving his daughter in the train station in Daejon.
Personal sacrifice, Throughout the movies we see the main characters sacrifice each other for one another, including the emotional scene where Seok Woo explains to his daughter that the reason he works so hard was always to protect her and make sure she has the best possible future ahead of her. Though again hidden under the surface, there is a more subtle sacrifice that takes place with elderly Jon-Gil, who we have seen throughout the movie always with a smile on her face, and reaching out to the in need. She literally throws herself to the zombie mob to by everyone time to get to a safe cabin.
After Seok Woo, Soo-an, Sang Hwa and his wife are forced out of the safe car by the hysterical rich tycoon Yon-sook, Jon-Gil's sister In-Gil is so disgusted with the selfish pettiness displayed by those in the safe car willfully opens to the door in retaliation for her sisters death.
Which brings me to my last observation of the film, and that is judgement and retaliation. Throughout the movie we see the building hysteria in the character of Yon-Sook. Being a successful and rich business owner, he is the highest on the Korean social ladder, and also the most selfish and ruthless. Willing to do anything to ensure his survival, including being directly and indirectly responsible for the infection of several of the survivors. In the final action sequence it is Yon-Sook after being bitten and infected himself fights with and ultimate infects the main character of the film, Seek-Woo. Now this is just my interpretation, but I felt this was very very subtly breaking the 4th wall, while not directly directed at the audience or acknowledging the audiences presence. It involves the audience in one of the main themes, and lessons in the movie and that is vengeance. When Yon-Sook was being chased by the zombie I actively cheering the zombie on, so much feeling of hate was built up for that character by that time. When in fact the zombie did succeed in biting Yon-Sook, there was a feeling of rightful comeuppance! It isn't until we learn Seok Woo's fate, that it could be said in a way our feelings of vengeance directly or indirectly caused the infection and suicide of Seok Woo. Hence the moral involvement of the audience (Or otherwise uninvolved parties).
This is the reason I love foreign films, even while for the most part being knock off of other films, sleepers, or seem to have unsatisfying endings (The good guys almost never win). There are so many nuances to sift through afterwards, in the end it has been a rewarding experience.
What are your thoughts on the film?
I wanted to take the opportunity to discuss my feelings on Train To Busan. Even though I thought the movie was over hyped, and flat in allot of parts, as with most Asian cinema you have to look at the film as a whole, to determine the main point the director is trying to convey to the audience. Often times it is not as cut and dry as in American films, and everything is usually neatly wrapped up neatly by the end of the movie.
On the surface Train To Busan is your run of the mill zombie apocalypse film, but under the surface is a very interesting critique of ever day Korean like, and social hierarchy and structure. From the hero Seok Woo, who personifies the typical Korean salary man, who is so busy at work that he virtually abandoned his family, leading to the estrangement and divorce of his wife, and his daughter Soo an who on her birthday terribly misses her mother who lived in Busan. Which sets the stage for the last minute train ride to go see her. Soo-an is ever mindful as a young girl in a strict hierarchal society throughout the movie, as evident in her offering the jump seat on the KTX to an elder even as they are running for their life from the infected passengers trying to get to them.
We also see the resentment between the blue collar Sang Hwa and Seok Woo, who at first addresses him with scorn and division believing him to be only interesting in his welfare, and taking other peoples money, this is exchanged in a inappropriate and potentially awkward exchange between him and Soo-An. Soo-an takes it in stride, and replies, "That is what everyone says." This early scorn is set aside as Seok Woo becomes indebted to Sang Hwa for saving his daughter in the train station in Daejon.
Personal sacrifice, Throughout the movies we see the main characters sacrifice each other for one another, including the emotional scene where Seok Woo explains to his daughter that the reason he works so hard was always to protect her and make sure she has the best possible future ahead of her. Though again hidden under the surface, there is a more subtle sacrifice that takes place with elderly Jon-Gil, who we have seen throughout the movie always with a smile on her face, and reaching out to the in need. She literally throws herself to the zombie mob to by everyone time to get to a safe cabin.
After Seok Woo, Soo-an, Sang Hwa and his wife are forced out of the safe car by the hysterical rich tycoon Yon-sook, Jon-Gil's sister In-Gil is so disgusted with the selfish pettiness displayed by those in the safe car willfully opens to the door in retaliation for her sisters death.
Which brings me to my last observation of the film, and that is judgement and retaliation. Throughout the movie we see the building hysteria in the character of Yon-Sook. Being a successful and rich business owner, he is the highest on the Korean social ladder, and also the most selfish and ruthless. Willing to do anything to ensure his survival, including being directly and indirectly responsible for the infection of several of the survivors. In the final action sequence it is Yon-Sook after being bitten and infected himself fights with and ultimate infects the main character of the film, Seek-Woo. Now this is just my interpretation, but I felt this was very very subtly breaking the 4th wall, while not directly directed at the audience or acknowledging the audiences presence. It involves the audience in one of the main themes, and lessons in the movie and that is vengeance. When Yon-Sook was being chased by the zombie I actively cheering the zombie on, so much feeling of hate was built up for that character by that time. When in fact the zombie did succeed in biting Yon-Sook, there was a feeling of rightful comeuppance! It isn't until we learn Seok Woo's fate, that it could be said in a way our feelings of vengeance directly or indirectly caused the infection and suicide of Seok Woo. Hence the moral involvement of the audience (Or otherwise uninvolved parties).
This is the reason I love foreign films, even while for the most part being knock off of other films, sleepers, or seem to have unsatisfying endings (The good guys almost never win). There are so many nuances to sift through afterwards, in the end it has been a rewarding experience.
What are your thoughts on the film?