Reunification or Partition?

When I watched Shiri last week, this film reminded me of the K-drama ‘Iris’. I think ‘Iris’ is a drama version of Shiri. The plot of Iris is particularly similar to Shiri.  They both deal with the North Korean spies and Korean undercover organization. In parallel to Shiri, the South Korean undercover agent falls in love with North Korean spy. Moreover, both have the sad ending, one of the main protagonists dies. According to the reading "Shiri was the most successful commercial film of the 1990s" (Kim 270). I think this film left a very strong impression to Koreans because of the plot / theme and all the action scenes. When Koreans talk about North Korean spies, they refer to Shiri or Iris. Personally, I believe that this film shaped the discourse on North Korean undercover / spies.

       

        As I watched Shiri, it was funny to see how North Korean agents were in the darkness most of times. When Lee Bang Hee was in North Korea, it was very difficult to see her face since she either covered her face with a red scarf or was practicing in the dark. In addition, when Lee was in North Korea, it seemed like she had no emotion. She even burned the family photo before coming down to South Korea. When she comes to South Korea and meets Jung Won, she changes completely. She becomes a person with emotion. She even frames photos of her and Jung Won.  The movie discreetly gives the message to audience that North Koreans are double-faced nation. On the outside, the North Korean government pretends to keep peace with South Korea but inside, they plan to demolish South Korea.  

            Thus, I think Shiri is such a biased movie. It generalizes North Koreans way too much. I’m not trying to defend North Korea. I also have negative feelings towards North Korea but I wonder if it is because I was taught this way since I was a kid.  I know North and South were divided for more than 50 years; but the films which mass population watch should not make the biased atmosphere. What was the hidden message that the director really wanted to portray? reunification or partition?