It's a hard-knock life
liehtzu
One of Kim Ki-duk's earlier, lesser-seen films, "Birdcage Inn" portrays the hard times of a young Korean prostitute and the family that makes money off her in…
One of Kim Ki-duk's earlier, lesser-seen films, "Birdcage Inn" portrays the hard times of a young Korean prostitute and the family that makes money off her in a Korean coastal city. As with all Kim's films, the plot is pretty ludicrous, but this one lacks much of the sensationalistic depravity that makes most of his films conversation pieces. Kim's really attracted to prostitutes and the business of prostitution - as, it seems, are many of his heroines (one character's transition at the end of the film foreshadows a similar character's change of heart in Kim's recent "Samaria"). He also seems to have a Mizoguchian love/hate feeling towards women. His girls may be whores but they have good hearts, and even though they may be smacked around repeatedly they persevere.The main girl, Jin-a, has to be the prettiest whore in all of Korea working a seedy dive like the one depicted in "Birdcage Inn." She's down on her luck and is the sole income provider for this impoverished family and their little inn by the sea. The family, though, aren't really all that bad, they just have to put the kimchee on the table and the kids through school somehow. The high schooler son's obsessed with sad, muppet-faced Jin-a and installs a microphone in her room so he can listen in on her frequent trysts with customers. The father, well, aside from the time when he pretty much rapes Jin-a, he's an otherwise great guy. The mother takes it all stoically, which is more than can be said for the daughter, trying to get through university and court a potential fiancé amidst all the dirty business. She can't stand that her family resorts to such activities and she blames poor Jin-a for all of it. Still, "Birdcage Inn" eventually becomes the female-bonding film you figure it was intended to be from the get-go.Like Lars von Trier, Kim tends to have his adorable lead actresses go through a good deal of pummeling and degradation in his films, and he continues to incur the wrath of feminists. But as I mentioned, despite its subject matter "Birdcage Inn" is probably the tamest of Kim's films until "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring," and actually manages to finish on a relatively upbeat note. At the end of "Birdcage Inn" the whore's still a whore and everyone's still stuck in a dead-end existence, but they're all oddly content and accepting, with a smiling, Ozu-like resolve.
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★ 8 / 10
So fragile, so unique...
bilgetanman
So silent, so fragile, so friendly; a watcher-friendly film to watch effortlessly. But still so artistic... Metaphors are even peaceful. (Especially everything…
So silent, so fragile, so friendly; a watcher-friendly film to watch effortlessly. But still so artistic... Metaphors are even peaceful. (Especially everything with water and fish gives added tranquility in this movie rather director's other film preferences.) The film does not manipulate watchers, not confusing but still exciting in every second.
Easy to empathy with all the movie and characters.
The end is also not undetermined. This will also be comfortable to finish.
I wish to be living still at the same world with the director; cuz we all need to see the hard realities of life from such an artistic but still realist window.. While the world's almost every living being is struggling with enlarging problems minute-by-minute, i hope Kim-Ki duk is resting in peace...
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★ 4 / 10
A naive film that isn't saved by its seeming artiness
ccscd212
I must start by saying that I'm not the biggest fan of Kim Ki-Duk, I've seen a number of his films and while he hits the mark more often than not, his films…
I must start by saying that I'm not the biggest fan of Kim Ki-Duk, I've seen a number of his films and while he hits the mark more often than not, his films tend to have some pretentious elements.
The story has been told a million times, and with much more flair. There are two girls, one of them despises the other, one of them longs for the other's friendship. Eventually, the first one realizes what a jerk she's been and so they become the best of friends. The end.
The whole prostitution angle doesn't really give the story much depth: wow, there's a pimp involved. Wow, everyone thinks they can exploit a prostitute. And the father's comment to the prostitute in the jail cell? Prostitutes aren't the only ones who whore themselves, huh? DEEP. The worst part is when the "decent girl" steps in for the hooker. What does this prove? That she indeed considers the other girl her equal? Hardly the best way to prove a point.
The rape scene(s) and some other parts might be viewed as disturbing. What I don't see is what they add to the film in this magnitude-- it's pretty much accomplished by this point that prostitutes don't lead the easiest lives.
Some nice subtle touches, decent acting and a couple of pretty pictures. Otherwise utterly forgettable and full of clichés.
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80%
AUDIENCE
7.0/10
2.2K
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Thank you Kim-Duk Kim, RIP.