Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageSurrogate Mother (1987)
Director: Im Kwon-Taek
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Im's first international prize-winner (best actress for Kang at Venice) is a more-in-sorrow-than-in-anger attack on the principles of male lineage and ancestor worship in the traditional Korean family. It's set in the late Yi Dynasty (late 19th century) to stress how deep rooted these things are, but its resonances are squarely contemporary. The well-born Shin and his wife are happy but lack an heir; behind his back, the family conspires with his wife to bring in a surrogate to bear him a son. Their choice is Ok-Nyo (Kang), a free-spirited girl who endures various physiological and sexual indignities (intended to ensure that she produces a boy) because she comes to like Shin and enjoy the relatively pampered life - forgetting she is there only as a servant. The emphasis on female suffering has come in for some critical stick, but Im's analysis of Confucian blockages in the Korean psyche seems all too cogent. And his mastery of image, tone and rhythm is unassailable.Author: TR
User reviews of this film
-
- Love Kajen said...
- Posted on May 28 2010 05:19 bad,but hhell of rubbish..........don't visit this site
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Im Kwon-Taek
Producer: Jung-Do-hwan
Cast: Kang Soo-Yeon, Lee Goo-Soon, Han Eun-Jin, Bang Hee, Yoon Yang-Ha full cast
Genre(s): Period/Swashbucklers
Duration: 85 mins
Top Stories
Ben Drew aka Plan B interview
The singer, rapper and now film director discusses his debut film 'Ill Manors'
Cannes Film Festival 2012: final round-up
Dave Calhoun draws the curtain on the world's greatest film festival
Ridley Scott interview
Director Ridley Scott tells Cath Clarke why he's making a science fiction comeback
What do you think?
Post your review now