Crying Fist
Evokative Films
R1 DVD
Web: http://www.evokativefilms.com
Reviewer: Bob
Estreich
Korean with clear English subtitles
Director Ryoo
Soung-Wan has produced an interesting human drama that shows the seedy side of
street life in modern Korea. He shows how depressing it really is and the
things people will do to improve their lot.
We start with
Tae-Shik, a man who once represented Korea in Olympic boxing and won a silver
medal. He did this while training in prison. The medal was the one highlight of
his life. He is now a drunk, deep in debt to the gangs, his wife wants a
divorce and his son is afraid of him and embarrassed at his lack of education.
To make some sort of a living he is hiring himself out as a human punching bag
so people can take out their aggressions and disappointments on him for two
minutes. He is reasonably successful but is starting to suffer the ill-effects
of being beaten up too much. His eyesight is damaged as is his brain and he has
cracked ribs. He would like to win the upcoming Amateur Boxing Championship
matches to restore his son’s faith in him.
Sang-Hwan started
early on a life of crime, beating up kids for money. In spite of his father’s
best efforts he remained self-centred, rude and brutal. He was not a very
successful criminal and he eventually beat an old man to death during a
robbery. In prison his fighting talents were noticed and he was also placed in
the prison boxing team as a trainee. This, it was hoped, would help him to
become a better person. He is a proficient boxer but his lack of
self-discipline and his inability to manage his anger mean he missed out on the
vital place in the Championships. Now he is out of prison following his
father’s death. His younger brother has been cared for by their grandmother and
it is a revelation to Sang-Hwan to find that she is rather proud of him. For
the first time in his life he starts to think of others, and he determines to
win the Amateur Championship to live up to his grandmother’s image of him.
Sang-Hwan is
younger and more agile but less disciplined and out of condition. Tae-Shik is
over forty, well past his best, but fitter and a better boxer. When they meet
in the finals there can be only one winner. Or is there a chance here for both
men to regain their self-respect? The match is savage and bloody.
Neither man is
really a hero. It is only during the boxing match that they each have something
to fight for. If there are heroes in this story it is Tae-Shik’s son and
Sang-Hwan’s grandmother. They never quite lose their faith and in the end it is
that faith that brings out some good in both men.
No doubt there
have been similar boxing stories before and there will probably be more to
follow, but I liked this one because of its gritty natural look and
no-larger-than-life characters. Give it a try.
Reviews appear on the Synergy website with
a single cover image. In the digital and print edition, reviews appear with
multiple images and with expanded content. We recommend you download the free digital edition (or buy the print edition) to get the most from Synergy Magazine.
This review will appear in Volume 2 No.6 (2009) of the digital and
print edition of Synergy Magazine.
If you came to this page directly (and
missed our menu), click here to go to the
front page of Synergy Magazine Website or click the following link: http://www.synergy-magazine.com