I'll get this out in the open right now: This film is extremely graphic and you really don't want to watch this if there are kids around. Apparently that is what the director, Kim Ki-duk tries to accomplish in his work. It's not a gore-fest like "Saw" or anything. Its stomach-churning content is far more psychological and realistic.
The movie starts out normally enough (it's actually a bit of a slow starter,) with a mute woman, who seems to live a simple life running a floating fishing resort - which I didn't realize such a thing exists despite having been to Korea several times. She ferries customers out to the basic floating bungalows and provides them with whatever they need while staying there including prostitutes and even fills in herself when such services are apparently unavailable.
One day, a man comes to stay at one of the bungalows and over time she and him develop a very dysfunctional relationship that takes many twists and turns including him bringing in another girl and making the mute manager.... let's just say.... very upset. I don't want to spoil the film for any of you out there with the stomach to watch it.
she isn't exactly "normal"
despite the fact that the film was largely panned in Korea, this film went on to be featured at multiple international film festivals where it caused some viewers to vomit or faint in the cinema.
not gonna tell you what is going on here, but it was difficult for me to watch too
One of the things that caused quite a stir with viewers and critics both international and Korean is the scenes involving cruelty to animals, which the director insists are all real.
Roger Ebert praised the film for its cinematography but also said this:
"This is the most gruesome and quease-inducing film you are likely to have seen. You may not even want to read the descriptions in this review."
Overall I give it a 7 / 10 because it makes you think, the soundtrack is really good, the acting is top-notch by the main 2 characters, and because there is very little dialogue but you still know what is going on.
So I'm not going to encourage anyone to watch this movie. I only did so because it was on a list of "shocking Korean films" that i read somewhere. However, if you like to push the boundaries of good taste have a go! Just don't say I didn't warn you.
On a side note this film presents Koreans as being dreadfully incapable of swimming, which I know to be untrue.
As always, i welcome your comments and suggestions.