Chilsu and Mansu
(1988), directed by Park Kwang-su, appear to me as a very interesting film on
many different levels. Everything spurs interest and imagination: from the way
the film is shot, the themes that are presented in the movie to the interaction
between the characters and especially then the relationship between Chilsu and
Mansu. In this blog post I will focus on a shot from the opening scene and its
significance, but the film has way more to it and it might be the film I would
like do my final paper on for this class.
When it comes to film
technique, one of the first opening shots is a rare 360-degree extreme long
shot from Gwangwhamun Square in downtown Seoul. As a bold move for director
Park in his debut film, it pans the camera 360 degrees before halting and ending
the shot by filming towards downtown Seoul - before cutting to a close up of
Chilsu sitting on a bus. The film does not try to mediate the shot (the shot
cuts to a medium-close up of the protagonist sitting on a bus, confirming that the
360 shot was not a point-of-view shot) and it becomes a stand-alone piece in
the film.
Not only is this interesting because a
360-shot is a signifier of a documentary but the location itself also holds a
lot of symbolism. This way of creating a shot is significant because it breaks
the Hollywood doctrine of keeping the audience as voyeurs of the incidences by
not breaking the 180-degree line. By doing that, the normative relationship
between the viewer and the screen is broken. 360-degree shots are therefore
signifiers of a documentary, a true story, or a true depiction of reality. Placing this shot in the beginning of the film
would lead us to believe that the director wants us to realize that what we are
seeing is close to reality.
In accordance with the significance of the shot is
what it portrays. Gwangwhamun Square is a summary of almost all the themes
within the film. Here lies the American embassy (anti-americanism), many of
Korea’s historical museums (connection between past and present), the financial
district (new economic development), department stores (class struggle), and in
the backdrop is the former royal palace and the Blue House – the presidential
palace (the role of the state). Also, along with City Hall, Gwangwhamun has
been on of the most important locations for mass demonstrations and signifies a
place of unrest.
Having been there is I know it is an awe-inspiring
place, but it is a place of many contrasts and serves as nice introduction to
the film. Just one block away from it you can find small dirty shacks (one of
them is the best Kimchi Jijgae restaurants in all of Seoul) but standing in the
middle of Gwangwhamun leaves you little idea of it. The place serves as a
storefront of a city and country that is far from the same. Gwangwhamun can in
that sense also serve as a symbol of keeping up appearances and a cover for the
self-image of Korea. In that sense you can draw a parallel between Korea and
Gwangwhamun, and Chilsu and his habitual lying.
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