A Tale Of Two Sisters

Reviewed by SuperNova

DVD released by Panorama Entertainment

Thriller/Horror
2003/South Korea
Region 3/115 minutes

Director: Kim Jee-Woon

Producer: OH Ki-Min, and OH Jung-Wan I

Starring: Yeom Jeong-A, Im Soo-Jung, Moon Geun-Young, and Kim Kab-su

Story:

Su-mi and Su-yeon (Su-jeong Lim and Geun-yeong Mun) are two sisters returning home from a recovering leave of absence. Their world seems wonderful, their lives peaceful and at ease, patiently awaiting the opportunity of seeing their family members again. It’s unclear as to where the two girls came home from, but a conversation regarding an illness leaves the viewer to believe they were in a hospital. Back at home things appear normal on the outside, but the family has changed drastically. Su-mi and Su-yeon develop a bitter resentment towards their Stepmother Eun-joo (Jung-ah Yum), because of her objective to always pursue the girls with questions, while taking on the chores of a real mother. Their anger even carries over towards their father, who always seems out of touch with his surroundings and personal life. Jealousy and rage soon ensues and a battle begins over the fragile and calm Su-yeon between the abusive Stepmother and the petrified older sister Su-mi.

As night falls something seems to descend upon the house signaled by the return of the two girls. What it is, no one knows, but its presence becomes apparent however during the middle of the night when it encounters both girls lying scared and alone in their beds. At first the Su-mi presumes it to be Eun-joo when she discovers various bruises and wounds on the Su-yeon’s forearms, but once the spirit makes itself clear to her during an early morning dream the skepticism departs. The anticipation builds, smothering the atmosphere in dread and anxiety leaving Su-mi to confront her father about the situation only to have him misunderstand her.

In the days following the scenario seems to get weirder and we really aren’t sure who to believe and who to trust. When Su-mi wakes up one morning to find a trail of blood through the house her immediate thought is to find Su-yeon, only she’s nowhere to be found. Terrified for her sister’s life Su-mi searches the house only to discover a blood soaked sack and Eun-joo’s bloody fingerprints. The question now becomes what happened to Su-yeon and did Eun-joo do the unthinkable? This is a fascinating story that has to be seen to comprehend what is actually going on in the movie. The details that are involved and the peculiar moments of cynicism and trepidation make A Tale Of Two Sisters a must see.

Reviewer’s Thoughts:

Watching this film I began to wonder if A Tale Of Two Sisters was even a tale at all. The result seemed more like a confusing nightmare that wasn’t meant to intentionally scare the dream weaver, but to provide an answer to a question that hadn’t been asked yet. For the first time in a long time I found myself compelled to search for my own response to the story that Kim Jee-Woon (The Quiet Family and Foul King) brilliantly crafted. Only I had more questions than I resolved and I found myself pondering more what happened in the film than even understanding the events that took place. I sat at my computer recollecting what had just been conveyed on screen. There had to be a message incorporated into the story, but I just couldn’t find it. Then like a floodgate of emotions built up inside it became apparent. The story was about regret, sorrow, and the intangible minds of two sisters forever mourning the lost of their mother, while lusting over their lives and each other. The fear of abandonment and knowing fate was a result of ignorance and despair.

At thirty minutes into the movie I thought I had it perfectly drawn out, balancing the suggested hints with my own preconceived thoughts. My fault lied in making assumptions based upon the imbalanced composition of the story, which in return shifted my equilibrium into a state of disbelief where all conceivable answers had been omitted and my mind drained of resolution and persistence. I perceived this film as a fairy tale, with Su-yeon and Su-mi tainted by the neurosis of incest because their bond reminded me of an erotic encounter fueled by lesbianism, which offset a severe Oedipal complex only in an opposing form. Likewise with a scenario only Cinderella and her cruel stepsisters and wicked stepmother would love and adore. My grasp of such material seemed more like a warped childish fantasy that surely twisted and fabricated the friendship these two girls shared. But their onscreen presence demonstrated such affection for each other my mind was unable to process this prestigious relationship.

Obviously the film isn’t about gratification or variable levels of ecstasy, but a movie of prime force that wants to reconcile a past memoir with fortitude and devotion. If anyone looks at this film as being anything other than a clever post modern study of the dramatic decline of one family’s love then you’ve sadly misinterpreted the point. I will agree the film borderlines horror and the supernatural with the utmost precision. Kim Jee-Woon’s knowledge of movies is apparent enough through references of such western affairs as The Sixth Sense and The Others, even acknowledging the visual parallels of Ringu and Ju-on, but despite these similarities, a capitalization of past Asian horror films this is not. The story has a purpose meant to be openly interpreted and while the result may not appear to be as thought provoking or rewarding to some, it doesn’t treat the viewer like a dummy by claiming the first ninety minutes to be a complete waste of time. Instead we are given starting points where the fragments of confusion are connected through hidden memories over a period of time all destined to tie together the loose ends along the way.

A Tale Of Two Sisters keeps you guessing right up until the climax where even when it comes you find yourself in a situation unwelcoming it because of your fondness for the characters in the movie. When the ending was painstakingly slow to reveal I sat in amazement at just how much I missed with regards to hints uncovered in times of anguish. Moments that purposely averted my attention elsewhere when subtly straying towards the finale. The behavioral attitudes that changed and shifted various visions in certain directions. There’s a moment during the film when the viewer is placed in a predicament of excitement and fear. A dream sequence that’s so understated and so unique it could only be examined as genuinely frightening without revealing what takes place. The film works because it relies on the concentration of such specific and important elements to tell its story. It cultivates the context of horror while remaining reasonably conscious of the dramatic surroundings and happenings. The brilliant pacing moves like a romantic love ballad played across the black and white keys of a piano. Anxiously building to a point where all mechanisms intersect into one emotional composition.

Time applies itself to unravel the mystery and it sounds beautiful to the ears, but amazingly dreadful to partake upon. The story doesn’t sacrifice character development for lesser known principles, instead it eases itself under the viewers shoulder like a cushioned pillow before manipulating them into thinking it is okay to relax only to have your focus stripped of its assessments frame by frame. The story may appear repetitious and challenging to some, but its beauty lies in the reactions of the characters that make A Tale Of Two Sisters a surreal masterpiece in Korean cinema. Where disguises often insinuate feelings and words that hold meanings appear to be whispered. It’s that rare aspect of story telling that creates such compelling atmosphere and exceptional characters that have a tendency to influence repeated viewing pleasures.

The acting is undoubtedly exceptional. Not a single character goes underplayed here, because each piece of the puzzle depends on their believability. Geun-yeong Mun could have unquestionably carried the film on her young shoulders. Her portrayal of innocence, matched by an equally compatible posture, bleeds with purity. Her intimidation of the brilliantly quaint Jung-ah Yum is significant for the viewer to understand, so that the ending is easily acceptable and she does this almost effortlessly. I especially enjoyed the performance of Su-jeong Lim because of how she was able to command the character of Su-mi. She has a recognizable talent for acting that’s felt throughout the movie while we venture through her characters ups and downs. If credit is misplaced for one character it goes without saying Kap-su Kim who plays the father of Su-mi and Su-yeon has the pivotal part in Two Sisters.

His character is the one that supports the structure of the puzzle, watching it crumble and reassemble itself without any intention to intervene. Many will assume his role is like a moderator, but it’s much more than that. To be specific he plays a father at heart with a gentle compassion to understand what is happening, only he struggles to do it on his own. It’s this incorporation of sincerity that makes A Tale of Two Sisters shine. For those patient enough to endure the misplaced intricacies and conundrum, A Tale Of Two Sister will reward your curiosity by expanding upon your own analysis with a defining story of cunning wits and maturity.

Audio:

A Tale Of Two Sisters is presented in Korean language with a DTS 5.1 ES and DD.5.1 EX track. The audio is vibrantly tranquil throughout most of the picture while the story takes time to unfold. The DTS 5.1 ES track is a wonderful feature that takes advantage of nightmarish scenes while enhancing the audio of such creaking doors and heavy footsteps. The symphony of ghastly moans and haunting static fills the ears with echoes of disproportion while the cries and screams of those being tortured often go unnoticed. The subtitles (there are English and Chinese) are of excellent quality, paying precise attention to tell the story accurately. Byung-woo Lee’s musical score is like the film’s own ghostly aspiration. At times it goes unnoticeable, not because it isn’t good, but because it suits the movie so well it almost takes on a persona of its own. It provides the tension, emotion, and the concentrated fear without becoming too overwhelming.

Video:

Powerfully stimulating, A Tale Of Two Sisters, presented here in an anamorphic widescreen transfer, is a visual splendor complete with scales of varying textures and seductive patterns. The disorientation of the opening montage of flowers shows no signs of the imposing doom that lies ahead, instead the luscious decor richly basks before the viewer in a scenic assortment of pulsating reds and earth bound greens. The culmination of the deeply saturated colors intensifies the characteristics of the house while the smooth intricate tones provide a sense of perpetual beauty. Entirely decorated with exaggerated hues that absorb the dread, the house appears at times to be harboring malevolent entities. The darkness of the corridors complete with paranoid lights that cast unearthly shadows on the walls makes the structure of the home appear as though it was a character itself. The oppressive production design contributes to the overall atmosphere. From the distinctive floral patterns to the dark ornate textures everything invokes death and works to accentuate the mystery we are all about to forge upon.

Special Features:

Panorama Entertainment presents Kim-Jee-Woon’s masterpiece A Tale of Two Sisters in a single disc DVD release. The menus come animated with music and a selection list composed of an audio menu, a chapters menu and a subtitle menu. The film runs twelve chapters in length and is presented here without any special features.

Overall:

I bought A Tale Of Two Sisters with a hope that a certain spark that had long departed during my brief interval after Takeshi Miike’s Ichi The Killer would rekindle my love for Asian cinema. It was one of those rare occasions where I actually took the liberty of watching the movie during a Saturday afternoon. A Tale Of Two Sisters is an amazing movie that seems to have a lingering effect upon each individual viewer. It’s a movie where once the credits appear across the screen you sit and question in the adjusting silence about what you have just witnessed. Trying to piece together your own assertion, before hitting the play button one more time. It’s that raw controversy and talent that leads me back to Asian cinema. A fondness I have for films that allow the viewer the option to interpret everything that has just occurred. Kim-Jee-Woon’s film doesn’t make sacrifices and nor does it have to. This is a solid film, about a family’s decline and how certain things can affect someone long after they are gone. I have no complaints with Two Sisters, trying to find an error here is like looking for a needle in a bundle of hay. Everything exists for a reason and the reason is something you’ll have to discover for yourself.

Movie ****½/*****
Audio *****/*****
Video ****½/*****
Supplements **/*****

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