[Opinion] Hang Sang-Soo and `Discovery of Movie`

There was an opportunity to watch `discovery of life`, new movie of director Hang Sang-Soo last week.

This second preview that was held before opening in theaters was fully crowded with curious enthusiast.

I remember when his first movie preview `the day when pig falls into a well`, was held some years ago, had only few people.

Meanwhile, director Hong became famous and people who are crazy about his movies increased, I could see through my eyes.

As I expected, his new movie gave a chance to re-discover movie as an art.

To make a new movie should be to let us discover movie newly, otherwise, it is only repeat of the old.

The person, Hong Sang-Soo is not a common director, but some one who persists with his own writing way and goes his own way without caring for today’s film industry, in which commercial movies made for entertainment, reign supreme.

He continues movie pursuit by observing life minutely just like a novelist and he puts it into film in an exclusive manner.

The title, `discover of life` that is little irrelevant but it matches with this movie well.

Simultaneously, this movie is `discovering of movies` I think.

I feel that it contains new reflection of director Hong Song- Soo`s way of making movies, though it seems to be made conventionally.

Producer Hong looks into their petty behavior by his characteristic humorous gaze; through the cause that one actor had sex with two women whom he met during his trip.

However, if we see closely, he shows words and actions which are somehow meaningful, sometimes absurd, and sometimes abnormal.

Though it seems having less dramatic density than previous movies, but we feel maturity like mental freedom of writer, with appropriate distance that meditates life.

However, what can we do, though it is such a good movie?

Someone cut a joke after preview, saying, “it is fully crowded only in preview, but, if it opens in theaters, it will be nothing”.

It is a significant joke.

Seeing the case of director Hong, I think how important the matter of choice is, in movies, too.

In other words, it should choose one of ` commercial success, or artistic achievement` clearly.

Different from other arts, movies can’t help avoiding mixed character through industry and art, though it is called art, as it is based on industrial grounds.

As big capital and manpower is invested, public entertainment is a must consideration in any kind of movie.

On this, it is right that every movie which is shown in theaters is a commercial movie.

It is applied in the case of director Hong as well.

It can be said that the discrimination of `art movie` and` commercial movie` is not by complete quality but by difference of level.

He is capable, however, is followed by luck too.

The reason how he could make movies that he wants, despite unfavorable entertainment degree is because there are producers who invest in movies choosing fame rather than profit.

Of course, evaluation in international movie awards besides Cannes and encouragement by domestic reviewers might be absolute help for him.

The person like director Hong should come out more in Korea.

Therefore, more `art movies`, `writer movies` should be made.

It doesn`t mean that every movie should be produced like that.

However, I say this because the place where `writer` like Hong Sang-Soo can work is too less.

There should be many producers who should make an effort to raise quality of movies, however, simultaneously, taste of audience should be specialized and individualized so that they can choose and watch movies according to their taste, not being swept away by temporary fashion.

Korean movie culture is still in an early period that didn`t specialize.

Every possibility is open.

Choi min (Prof. Of Korean National University of Arts, Image Aesthetics)