Oldboy: plot, introduction of key characters, position in South Korean cinema

"Old Boy" is a 2003 film directed by Park Chan-wook, which depicts the process of finding out the reason for his imprisonment after being trapped in an unknown place without knowing the reason by referring to the setting of the Japanese cartoon "Old Boy." From now on, we will learn about the plot, the introduction of key characters, and the position of Korean movies.

 

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Old Boy: The Plot 

 

Oh Dae-soo was suddenly kidnapped on his way home drunk and lives in an unknown place for 15 years. After 15 years, he is released into the world for no reason, not knowing why his freedom was taken away. Oh Dae-soo's mind is full of revenge, and Lee Woo-jin, the person who imprisoned him, reappears and offers to kill himself if he finds out why he trapped Oh Dae-soo. Working on a puzzle for revenge, Oh Dae-soo develops into a relationship with a woman and Mido whom he met at a Japanese restaurant. Tracking the past, Oh Dae-soo realizes that Lee Woo-jin was actually a friend in high school, and that he spread the inappropriate relationship between Lee Woo-jin and his sister without much thought and transferred to Seoul. Oh Dae-soo forgets about it over time, but in the end, Lee Woo-jin's sister becomes pregnant in an imagination, and she commits suicide due to criticism from those around her. After Oh Dae-soo noticed the truth, he went back to Lee Woo-jin in search of a solution. At that time, Lee Woo-jin revealed a shocking fact. Mido was actually Oh's daughter, and he manipulated Oh and his daughter to love each other with hypnosis. In other words, the purpose of trapping Oh Dae-soo for 15 years was to take revenge on Oh Dae-soo in the same way. In front of the shocking truth, Oh Dae-soo tried to atone for himself by cutting his tongue, but Lee Woo-jin ends his life in the elevator, leaving only a futile smile.

Oldboy: Introduction to Key Characters 

 

The main characters in Oldboy have deep and complex personalities, and their motivations and actions play a big role in shaping the central theme of the film. First, the main character Oh Dae-soo is an intense and complex character. He was released into the world after 15 years of imprisonment. His life has changed mysteriously, and he desperately tries to find out who imprisoned him and why. Oh Dae-soo shows his viability despite the painful situation, and his revenge causes harm not only to himself but also to others. However, as he learns the shocking truth, Oh Dae-soo's inner changes and repentance are revealed in the scene of atonement by cutting off his own tongue. Next, Lee Woo-jin is one of the most important roles in the movie. He is a high school friend and a person who has been imprisoning Oh for 15 years. Lee Woo-jin tries to get revenge on Oh Dae-soo for the past, and executes a carefully planned revenge operation. Lee Woo-jin trapped Oh Dae-soo because of the wounds he and his family were blamed for the inappropriate relationship that occurred in school. Lastly, Mido is an important female character in the movie. It develops into a relationship after meeting at a Japanese restaurant, and in fact, it is the subject of inducing sexual intercourse with Oh Dae-soo. Mido is naive and affectionate, and she shows herself risking everything to protect her loved ones. The three characters create complex and violent stories in the movie Old Boy, showing how their characters influence each other.

 

Oldboy: Position in South Korean movies 

 

"Old Boy" occupies a very important position in the history of Korean cinema. This film is one of the films that made the level of Korean cinema recognized worldwide, and it received great acclaim at home and abroad for its unique storytelling and director Park Chan-wook's original directing style. It won the Grand Prix (top prize) at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, contributing to establishing the global status of Korean films, and later on, it won awards at various international film festivals, increasing its reputation. In addition, "Old Boy" is a work that made the audience think deeply about society and human nature at the same time through its theme of revenge and its shocking development. Because of this, "Old Boy" was recognized for its value as a work of art, not just entertainment. Therefore, "Old Boy" is considered one of the most important and famous works in Korean film history. And to this day, it has been continuously loved by many audiences and critics.

So far, we've looked at the plot of "Old Boy," the introduction of key characters, and its position in Korean movies.