Sydney ’16: A Fish review. This surreal 2011 Korean drama returns half a decade later in Sydney.
A Fish review
2011’s A Fish is a Korean film that owes a lot to David Lynch. In fact, it is probably the best realisation of dreams ever seen on film. That is of course if they are in fact dreams. This is Park Hong Min’s debut feature, and one that cannot be easily described or debated, offering up a confusing narrative that makes more sense when you realise how disjointed and disconnected it is meant to be.
The film opens with protagonist Jun Hyuk (Lee Jang Hoon), being stopped for speeding. He answers the questions of the police officer cryptically, setting the tone for the film. Information is gradually revealed to us, but makes sure to have characters that have non-specific conversations so as to extend the wondrous air of mystery. Jun Hyuk soon gets in contact with a private detective (Kim Sun Bin) who Jun Hyuk has hired to find his wife, Ji Yeon (Choi So Eun). It may sound simple, but things seem off from the get go.
A Fish review
Early scenes suggest that not everything is at it appears, with a restaurant owner seemingly knowing all of Jun Hyuk’s business, a strange fog setting in, and a side story that sees two fishermen (Park No Sik, and Kyun Yong Hwan) debate whether or not fish know that by taking bait they are sealing their fate. These surreal moments lace the film with an unsettling tone that is similar to horrors and thrillers. It also gets much weirder when characters disappear from scenes or even swap places and appearances.
Such scenes and tweaks aren’t pointless though, and soon a rich visual compendium to the subconscious is presented. We are thrown into a world of dreams, trances, and spiritualism as we question what is reality, what comes after death, and we deal with conflict and loss. It will engage those it doesn’t lose in its dense atmospheric tone, and will infuriate just as many other viewers. This is also the kind of film, now five years on from its initial release, that deserves to be revisited. It’s not a simple, watch once, kind of film, but something to get under your skin and inspire thought.
A Fish review
The confusion is not just a cheap device courtesy of Park Hong Min’s inability to craft a story. His revelations are perfectly timed, and prove that the film could have been a more generic mystery. Lee Jang Hoon also captures soul in his performance, despite the film being very subtle and quiet. Moments linger for an uncomfortable amount of time until they evolve into something more relaxing.
A Fish will never be an insanely popular film, but for those who always desire to see figurative images of the mind on screen, while also offering an emotionally and narratively explorative film, then this is a rare treat. Sparsely shot with an emptiness that calms, but constructed in a thoughtful fashion that utilises symbolism that is never too pretentious nor obscure, this is the perfect film for anybody wanting something more.
A Fish review by Luke Ryan Baldock, June 2016
A Fish is screening at the Sydney Film Festival as part of their Korea on the Verge strand on 15th June at 6:00pm
