Shi gan

I'm not a die-hard Ki-duk Kim fan, but he almost always gets in my head. And here he succeeded most of all. This topic evoked unexpectedly strong emotions in me that I can't shake for a few hours now. I wouldn't have expected to say this, but it was a great film. 4 stars. (28/11/2012)

As I already mentioned in my profile, I have problems with most East Asian films, and several problems starting from the fact that the actors' faces blur for me (by the way, the same is said by people from East Asia about us) and in general, it is true that emotional reactions in East Asian productions often do not correspond to what I expect and consider appropriate in a given situation due to the different culture. Moreover, from the reviews of Ki-duk Kim's films, I get the feeling that he is the Korean version of Sokurov, and his style does not suit me. I chose Time as probably the most digestible and thematically attractive film from his production. It is an interesting piece of work, original and thought-provoking in many aspects. On the other hand, the director's mannerisms are noticeable, so I will avoid his other films. As for the theme, the postmodern fascination with oneself and one's appearance is valid for others as well. Recently, I saw a documentary on tattooing, and what Ki-duk Kim focuses on in this film was also included there. However, I would prefer a Euro-American adaptation. To be honest, the story sometimes stands on shaky ground. Can plastic surgery really change a person so much that their partner doesn't recognize them at all? What about their voice, gestures, birthmarks on the body, and many other things? It was necessary to greatly violate logic for the director to bring his film to a final point. Nevertheless, it is not lacking in charm. Overall impression: 60%. (07/10/2009)

L’Île et Locataires m’avaient choqué et enthousiasmé à la fois, Samaria m’avait déçu et avec Time, c’est quelque part entre les deux. J’ai comme l’impression d’avoir vu les meilleurs films de Kim Ki-Duk en premier lieu et qu’après, la qualité ne fait que se dégrader. Je peux me tromper… Ou alors, peut-être n’ai-je pas assez creusé l’idée principale et le message de ce film ? (21/12/2011)