WOMAN IS THE FUTURE OF MAN
Korea, 2004, 88 minutes, Colour.
Yoo Jitae, Sung Hyunah, Kim Taewoo.
Directed by Hong Sangsoo.
One is tempted to think after seeing this film that 'no one is the future of anybody'. Although the film has a brief running time, it spends a great deal of it looking at and listening to its three protagonists. It also avoids a simple linear exposition of its plot, preferring to make quick transitions into flashbacks. It is also one of those films which does not tie everything up, let alone tie it up neatly
One young man is a film director returned from the US who meets up with his old friend, now an art lecturer. They eat, they drink, they visit the girl who had had a relationship with each of them. What has happened to them? What have they achieved? How do they relate? Can relationships be better? The screenplay leads us to be somewhat pessimistic about the answers.
1. The impact of the film as regards characters, narrative, atmosphere, moral issues and dilemmas?
2. The city setting, winter, the snow, the house, the restaurants? The flashbacks and the apartments, the airport, the university rooms? The musical score?
3. The title - and its seeming that nobody would be the future of anyone?
4. The role of the men, their attitude towards life, their careers? Their attitude towards women, especially Sun Hwa symbolising their attitudes?
5. Mun Ho, professor of art, married, wealthy home? Dominated by his wife? His inviting Hun Joon? Not into the house, to go to the restaurant, their drinking, eating, their discussion about themselves? Mun Ho's anger with Hun Joon about his hugging his wife in the United States American style? His watching the young waitress, discussion about her modelling, her refusal? His telling Hun Joon about Sun Hwa? The flashbacks? Their going to Puchon, finding Sun Hwa, the restaurant, her apartment, his sexual attitude towards her, behaviour? The aftermath? Going to the university, the students? The sexual attitudes? His future?
6. Hun Joon, back from the US, wanting to make films rather than teach? Meeting Mun Ho, walking in the snow backwards - as if that was the only way that the person went in and out of the snow? Not seeing the house? Drinking, talking, asking the waitress whether she would like to appear in his film? The flashbacks? Going to Puchon, his being drunk, attitude towards Sun Hwa, his apologies? Going to the university - and finally standing in the street in the snow? His future?
7. Sun Hwa, her relationship with Hun Joon, the abduction by the military man after his release, the rape? The sexual encounter - and Hun Joon promising to cleanse her? Going to the airport, Mun Ho bringing Sun Hwa? The farewell, the promises? His not keeping them? Her reaction, her disappearance, the bar in Puchon? The flashback with Mun Ho, the sexual encounter? His marriage? In Puchon, in the bar, with the two men, her free attitude towards sex, making breakfast, the university? Her future - with either of them?
8. The university students, the discussions, sexual behaviour?
9. A portrait of young adults in Korea, Korean society, its mores and morals, sexuality, violence? The role of men and women? Exploitation - and the title?
