Prolific South Korean director Kim Ki-Duk has enjoyed a certain renaissance in the Czech Republic; his movies are yearly staples at the Karlovy Vary Film Fest, and each seems to get a fairly wide theatrical release in the country (a country where – for example – the award-winning, Brad Pitt-starring modern classic The Assassination of Jesse James goes straight to DVD).
Breath doesn’t reach the highs of some of the director’s previous films (my favorites: 3-Iron and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring) but Ki-Duk’s trademark assured, delicate direction, complimented by a number of quirks and in-jokes, plays right into the hands of his fanbase.
Actress Park Ji-a (here billed as ‘Zia’) stars as unsatisfied housewife Yeon, who – in no short order – discovers her husband is cheating on her, takes a cab to a prison one night, waits outside till dawn, and then asks to see death row inmate Jang Jin, who she knows from recent news reports.
Jang Jin is played by Taiwanese actor Chang Chen (of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and 2046 fame); the actor doesn’t speak Korean, but his character attempts suicide in a striking pre-title sequence, severs his voice chords, and remains silent for the rest of the film (of course, Ki-Duk is no stranger to silent protagonists).
While Yeon and Jang Jin strike up an increasingly intimate relationship (under the eye of an omnipresent security officer who watches the two on CCTV monitors and is only seen in reflection – played, yes, by Ki-Duk), her husband becomes infuriated.
As usual, the director’s subtlety is a strength here, spelling out nothing and letting us draw our own conclusions; the most awkward of situations are played out with deadpan amusement.
Breath is certainly a lighter piece of work, and the kind of art-house film full of laundry-chore metaphors, but fans of the director should be pleased.
