Review of The Isle (2000) by Pete W — 02 Jan 2008

Review written following Frightfest Premiere.

The Isle. Eastern cinema is represented with this Korean film directed by Kim Ki-Deok. Whilst Battle Royale is violent throughout The Isle is a much more peaceful affair. However we are warned before the screening that at previous showings people had fainted due to some of the graphic scenes contained. The same claim had been made last year with Audition, which I found a major letdown and no way deserving of such hype. There are scenes in The Isle however that are grueling in the extreme and whilst no one passed out, the auditorium was punctured by groans and gasps. The Isle is set in one expansive location. A large lake with little islands containing fishing shacks on. Frequented by male anglers looking for fish and sometimes sex with local prostitutes.

A mute woman Hee Jin (Seo Jeong) who runs supplies to the anglers and sometimes services them sexually oversees the remote lake. An ex police officer Hyun-Shik (Kim Yu-Seok) soon takes up residence in one of the shacks. He has killed his wife and lover (shown in flashback) and has lost his will to live. A torrid and silent love affair takes place echoing Ai No Corrida (Nagisa Oshima 1976). There is a sinister side to Hee-Jin she has already exacted revenge on one client who mocked her by silently dragging him to the lakes depths so both protagonists are guilty of murder. Sex between them takes a violent nature Hyun-Shik all but rapes Hee-Jin who strangely sets him up with a local prostitute. She has sex with another visitor who is on the run from the police and is arrested. Finally a suicide attempt all but works Hyun-Shik swallows fish hooks attached to a line. With the police looking for him he is hidden and reeled in by Hee-Jin who exacting revenge has sex with him after bloodily removing the fishhooks. She then murders the prostitute in fit of jealousy and drowns her violent pimp as the lake starts to fill up with bodies. A romantic scene ensues with our lovers painting the fishing shacks in vibrant colours. A scene straight out of Betty Blue (Jean-Jacques Beineix 1986). The love affair goes from bad to worse. Hyun-Shik beats and rapes Hee-Jin brutally kicking her repeatedly in the crotch. She Responds by inserting the fish hooks up herself (yes I do mean up herself) and jumps in the lake.

Hyun-Shik reels her in and removes the hooks in one of cinemas most eye watering scenes. However an expensive watch has been lost in the lake and divers are called in. No guessing for what they find. The couple flee further into the lake hiding amongst a forest of water vegetation. Leaving us guessing to what the future holds for them.

The Isle whilst staggering in its sadism (including unfortunately cruelty to animals) is an absolute beautiful film to watch. The cinematography is staggering. The scenery of the lake is pure eye candy a complete compromise to the visceral brutality being exacted on the players. This is a film that once viewed will simply never be forgotten. It will probably be accused of being exploitation dressed up as arthouse, perhaps this is fair comment. Although The Isle is very much an Eastern picture the ethics displayed within could very much be reset in the western world. However it is interesting to consider how different the end result would be. Certainly not as haunting and brutal.

This is not the sort of film that is made often and remains completely satisfying in its uniqueness.