AFTER THE FIRST watching of this film, I was left dumb-founded. How can I understand this movie? Is this really a melodrama? How can a movie where main male and female characters really never meet be a melodrama? This movie is a quantum leap in the melodrama genre. We will probably never see a melodrama like this one again. This movie not only completely rewrites the rules of melodramas but shows that a melodrama can deliver powerful social commentary.
SYNOPSIS:
A wretched Gangster Kang Jae (Min-Sik Choi ) is involved in the organized crime syndicate marries Failan (Cecilia Cheung ) a young Chinese girl abandoned and alone in the world in a paper marriage of convenience; she gets to stay in Korea and work, and he gets some cash for it. Then he gets news that Failan his wife is dead So he has to go to where Failan was living and act like a normal husband to fulfill the cremation and law procedures. During the trip he discovers that Failan whom he had never even met, was in love with him because of what she thought was a kind act in marrying her.
REVIEW:
At first glance, the film is just your ordinary tale of love between star-crossed lovers. However, that simple tale magically becomes a poignant story of love, life and its misfortunes. It becomes a mirror image of how most of us may unknowingly take one brief moment for granted, and not see destiny slip from our very own fingertips. Failan manages to capture all this and turn it into a haven of remorse and regret. A place where dreams fade and only the true painstaking reality exists. It's a film about an ill-fated relationship that starts at the crossroads and ends in the heavens. Failan is sweet agony at its finest.
Failan and the gangster Kang Jae are the most trivial parts of our world. One girl with no relatives or skills to depend on to survive in a strange foreign country, and a 2nd class rogue who
is even thought less of by his "colleagues" in the gang. They did not even know each other before or well after their marriage, yet at their most difficult times, and ends of lives, it was this love, derived from imagination that told them to hang on, and to realize their only proof of existence on this planet. We seek for love in our real lives, yet never has been such a love seen. I guess, after all, we are to see and realize ourselves in every period of love, and in the permanent pursue of love, not our partners. And it is this self-realization that is the uttermost meaning of human lives.
The story is a slow paced one and is built heavily around character and emotion and is not made in the style of
What drew me to Failan was the presence of Choi Min-Sik in the cast. After seeing him in both Lady Vengeance and Oldboy , I wanted to explore more of the career of this extraordinarily talented actor and I was not disappointed. Choi Min Sik excels at all areas; whether crying in despair; being drunk or beating someone else up he makes utterly compelling viewing. Cecilia Cheung easily does the best work of her career. Her sympathetic turn as the quiet Failan is a marvel to watch. Two of the film's more memorable sequences: Failan using quick-thinking to avoid being sold to a strip club, and the heart-wrenching first night at her new home. This film contains some awesome cinematography; gorgeous aerial shots of
If any of you want to see a movie about life, a movie about the true beauty of life then watch this one. If you want to see a movie which touches the deepest layers of your heart then see this KOREAN MASTERPIECE.
Title : Failan
Director: Hae-sung Song
Cast: Choi Min-Sik, Cecilia Cheung
Rated R for violence and strong language
Country:South Korea
Language : Korean
Subtitles :English
DVD Features: Audio Commentary with Director
Interviews
"Making Of" Documentary
Critic's Comments
Music Videos
Torrent File Name :Failan[DVD-rip KOR - SubsENG-ITA-FR-SPA-GER].torrent
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1 comment:
Ya man you just said it... Failan is simple and elegant... Love never die.. when ever i think about this movie my heart beats fast and i feel fuzzy......
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