POV: Ki-duk Kim

I recently discovered the films of Ki-duk Kim. This guy is amazing. I've only seen three films, but I've loaded them up in my queue and started with his first film to watch his progression of style and themes. I watch one a week so I don't run out too quickly.

I started with 3-Iron (2004) and was blown away by the assured of his storytelling. How he develops relationships and characters. His willingness to use silence. Hell the guy creates characters that never say a word to each other. I couldn't tell you how much dialog is in 3-Iron, but there is very little and almost none by the two leads. It's all done with glances and simple actions that create a relationship that you can believe in.


His visuals can be simple or complex, but both create a feeling of a higher plain. There is a spirituality to it, even when he delves into the grotesque. Like his characters need to descend into hell before they learn how to fly. These are compositions that suck you in and you eat it up waiting for what you'll see next.

In the simplest of terms, he creates pure cinema. Check him out if you haven't seen his work already.