Review of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) by Sarfaraz A — 03 Jun 2014

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance - South Korean film co-written and directed by Park Chan-wook. Starring Song Kang-ho, and Shi Ha-kyun. This is the first part in the trilogy by Park on the subject of 'vengeance' the second part followed by 'Oldboy' (the most popular of the trilogy) and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. In 2010, as usually compelled to act by the worst disease in the Hollywood, the Warner Bros. acquired the rights to remake this film.

Shin Ha kyun is a deaf and mute, who works at a glass-factory. He loves his ailing sister, for whom he's working day and night to get her kidney-transplant - for which he keeps visiting her doctor for the donor. Shin gets fired from the factory - and later deceived openly by an illegal human-organ smugglers (who also take his saved-money and his own kidney). Next time he's called by the doctor who informs him that a donor has been located-he just need to arrange the money. Troubled by the event, he plans with his evil-minded girlfriend to abduct small daughter of his former boss 'SONG KANG-HO'. In a tragic event the girl drowns to death, and sister of Shin also dies of pains. Now he (Shin) must get ready, for because he has woken angel-of-death in Song Kang-ho.

Film contains simple plot, and average characters. Good direction, there is no need for solid dialogues in this (in which case it does not matter at all), since the scenes were far more striking than an urge for lines. Blood and blood (but moderately handled - and where required). The eminent end is sure to follow in this plot. A well-worth watching film, if you basically love the movies on the subject of 'vengeance' - where else to look other than Korean films.