FILMBRATS - REVIEWS

In what became the shocking news event of the town had ever seen, Geum-ja Lee, only nineteen years of age, was sent to prison for the kidnapping and murder of a small child. Her confession and reenactment for the press ensured that she would be in there for a long time. That doesn’t mean she wouldn’t make the most of it, however. While inside, she discovers that her accomplice, Mr. Baek (the one she went to prison to protect) had completely betrayed her. So she climbs the ranks amongst the convicts, makes a lot of new friends, and plots her revenge upon her release. Thirteen years later, the gears are put into motion and there may not be anything or anybody that can stop her.

Chan-wook Park delivers the final and marginally weakest installment in his Revenge Trilogy. After “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance” and “Oldboy,” “Lady” doesn’t have a whole lot new to offer, especially in the visual department. It lacks the stunning landscapes of “Sympathy” and doesn’t come anywhere near “Oldboy” in terms of dynamic camera work. But that’s okay. This film still looks great in its own way, even if it is a little more standard in its approach. The story as well gives off the feel that we’ve seen it before. Perhaps it’s that all three share a main thread of kidnapping. But even though they are clearly different, and none share as much as a single character, you sort of get the feeling that you know what’s going to happen in this third installment.

That’s not to say it’s not entertaining, because it is. And you really don’t know exactly what’s going to happen or how, especially if you haven’t seen the previous two features. However, I think all the scenes showing her time spent in prison was much more interesting than almost all of what Geum-ja did once she got out. I enjoyed seeing the power struggle within the system and how she made friends and then used them to serve a quid pro quo purpose. I had a little problem with all the flashbacks. I know “Oldboy” did the same thing, but that film used it to reveal new information and open up new doors to the audience. “Lady” simply uses the flashbacks to introduce a new contact or just fill in more of the back story that could have been handed to us from the very start.

But probably the most fascinating part of the movie, I don’t feel comfortable revealing within this review for fear of spoiling any major plot points. All I’ll say is that near the end you get to witness an extremely thought provoking look at human nature. I wish the film would have had a quicker ending after being built up so well or at least make it a little more definitive. It’s like watching a long, slow burning wick attached to a piece of dynamite that just kinda fizzles out. I wanted a little bit more out of the story, told in less time. It’s highly possible that I’ve just become jaded after watching the first two and I’m grading this one a little harshly. But if you’re trying to follow-up a nearly flawless film like “Oldboy,” there better be a little more substance in what you present.

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