On DVD: The Bow

Directed by Ki-duk Kim

Starring Jeon-Seong-hwang, Han Yeo-reum, Si-jeok Seo

The Bow is a film from South Korea that doesn’t have anything to do with scary ghost girls with long hair and white nightgowns. The Bow was recently released on DVD by Tartan Video and I gave it a whirl.

The Movie

The Bow takes place entirely on a small fishing boat. The boat is operated by an old man (Jeon Seong-hwang). Although, he does not spend his days alone as he shares the boat with a young girl (Han Yeo-reum) that he found abandoned several years earlier. The two spend their days fishing and making money bringing amateur fisherman onto the boat for fishing trips.

As the girl grows into a young woman, the fishermen that visit the boat find things to do with their hands rather than just putting worms on a hook. But when they get to amorous, the old man gets a bow and arrow and fires off warning shots that barely miss their mark.

The old man and young girl, who barely speak to each other, do communicate in one unusual way. While they have the visiting fisherman as a captive audience, the young girl swings over the side of the boat, back and forth, as the Old Man shoots off arrows toward her, expertly missing her each time. The girl removes the arrows and makes predications about the fisherman’s future based upon the placement of the arrows. She whispers this into the old man’s ear and he relays the information to the perplexed fisherman.

However, the relationship between the old man and young girl is much more complex than just sharing a boat and fishing together. The old man is marking off days on his calendar waiting for the young girl to turn 17. When she does, he is going to marry her. But the arrival of a young man may put an end to his romantic plans.

The young man and girl immediately are attracted and fascinated by each other. He gives her a gadget that plays music, something she has never experienced and when the two part, it is obvious that they are sharing some intense feelings.

This is not good news to the old man. Enraged, he throws the gadget into the sea and proceeds to smack and yell at the young girl. He cheats, marking out days on the calendar before they arrive and even ripping entire months out of the calendar.  The young man returns, determined to free the girl from the old man and find out about her mysterious past.

What is to become of the old man and the young girl? Is she going to be a prisoner on this boat for the rest of her days?

The Bow is a very subtle and quiet film. And much like Ki-duk Kim’s other films, there is very little dialogue. So, this is not the film you want to pop in if your eyes are already droopy at the end of a long work day.

But, if you are looking for an exquisitely performed and well executed minimalist art-house film that tells a simple story, The Bow is a DVD you will enjoy giving a spin in the old player.  

Trust me; just make sure you aren’t overtired before giving it a try. It will make all the difference in the world.

7/10

The Video

The Bow is presented in anamorphic widescreen. This is a solid transfer with vibrant colors, decent black levels and no instances of grain or artifacts.

7/10

The Audio

The Bow is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 in the original Korean language with English subtitles. The dialogue is clear and easily understood throughout and mixed well with the ambient sounds of the sea.

7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features

The Bow is presented in a standard amaray case with a cardboard slipcover with nicely understated artwork.

One bonus feature offered is a featurette entitled “The Making of The Bow”, which is your standard affair featuring interviews with the director and cast and some behind the scenes footage of the production of the film.

Rounding things out is a photo gallery and original theatrical trailer.

6.5/10 

Overall ( Not an Average) 7/10

The Review

The Movie 7/10

The Video 7/10

The Audio 7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 6.5/10

Overall ( Not an Average) 7/10

-Stephen Lackey