[HanCinema's Film Review] "Festival - 1996" + Full Movie

Based on the homonymous novel by Lee Cheong-joon, "Festival - 1996" finds Im Kwon-taek at his most experimental endeavor of the 90s, in an effort that netted him the Best Film Award at the 1996 Blue Dragon Awards.

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Lee Joon-seop is a famous writer in his 40s, who suffers, however, from guilt for his treatment of a number of people in his life, including a niece, Yong-soon, and his senile mother, whom he has left to be taken care of in the village he grew up in, by relatives and the neighbors. One day, he is informed of her death and returns to his birthplace, where a number of family and friends have also arrived to attend the funeral. A journalist from Seoul, Hye-rim, also follows him, in an effort to question the people who know him in the area and write a piece on the actual life of the famous author. The funeral rituals begin, but the enmity among the relatives soon takes over, particularly when Yong-soon arrives, as it is apparent that no one wants her there, even more so since she is by no means willing to follow any custom.

Im Kwon-taek directs a film whose experimentalism lies in the different types of movies he has managed to incorporate within the same narrative. As such, we have a documentary aspect that focuses intently on presenting every detail of the funeral proceedings, which actually last for days and include a number of customs. We also have a fairy tale that unfolds in intervals throughout the movie, about a young girl whose grandmother gets smaller and younger the taller and older she gets. Through a set design that is obviously artificial, Im makes a point that this is not a reality, with the way the two protagonists gradually grow apart and eventually clash having a secret meaning that is revealed in the finale.

The next two lines are intermingling. One, the central one, is a family drama about the relationships between the plethora of members of the family, where a number of enmities and bitterness seems to be the rule, although none of them finds it possible to sever the particular ties. Among a series of bad behaviors, mostly including bad mouthing in front and behind the back of each other and drunken outbursts, the dynamics of the family are presented in all their dramatic glory. Lastly, the presence of the journalist sheds light to life in rural areas and the differences between the people who live there and the ones in the urban centers, while also serving as the main source of analysis for Joon-seop, and the reasons behind his overall behavior.

Im Kwon-taek combines all the aforementioned masterfully, in a rather difficult endeavor that also benefits the most by Park Soon-deok's excellent editing, which results both in a very fitting, relatively fast pace, and has the aforementioned various aspects intermingled within the narrative ideally. Park Seung-bae-I's cinematography is also accomplished, particularly in the way he captures the scenes where a plethora of people are present, which is also a trait that should be attributed to Im Kwon-taek's direction.

On the other hand, in terms of context, the movie is rather unremarkable. The prodigal son that is the niece is almost a cliche, particularly because she mostly stands out through her appearance (as in the way she dresses). Furthermore, the drunken behaviors become tiring to watch after a time, while the finale, which seems to exonerate Joon-seop in his relationship with his niece and also highlight a comment that, despite our differences, we are all family, can only be perceived as idyllic. Lastly, the monologues about the values of Confucianism particularly regarding the ancestors are as conservative as possible, in a movie that overall, lacks impact in terms of context.

The acting also suffers from the aforementioned mediocre characterization, although Ahn Sung-ki is quite good as always, even in a role that is not that demanding of him. Oh Jung-hae as Yong-soon steals the show in the role of the nail that stands out, although the ending does detract from her performance also.

"Festival - 1996" has some unique aspects, as in the presentation of the funeral rituals, the concept of rebirth and the mixing of various styles, but in the end, it is a film that lacks impact, to the point that it becomes dull after a fashion, despite the many episodes included.

Review by Panos Kotzathanasis

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"Festival - 1996" is directed by Im Kwon-taek, and features Ahn Sung-ki, Oh Jung-hae, Han Eun-jin, Jung Kyung-soon, Park Seung-tae, Lee Geum-ju. Release date in Korea: 1996/06/06.