Nabbeun namja (2001) Directed by Kim Ki-Duk

Nabbeun namja (2001)

Bad Guy

Director : Kim Ki-Duk

Language : Korean

Do you believe in love at first sight? Han-gi (Jo Jae-hyeon) does!! So much so, in fact, that when he first sees plain-looking student girlie Sun-hwa (Seo Won) in the middle of a crowded city centre, he can't help but run over to her and give her a big ol' snog - despite the fact that her boyfriend proceeds to beat him across the spine with a large piece of street furniture. And the army are waiting to give him a kicking. And she's none too shy when it comes to gobbing on people.Shocked at the resounding failure of his attempt to pull (who would ever have thought that forcing yourself on a complete stranger wouldn't work?!), our Han plots his revenge by framing the girl as a pick-pocket, forcing her to deal with a loan shark, and seeing to it that she winds up miserably employed at the nearby brothel where he just happens to do a spot of pimping.

A bleak, downbeat and wretched film, featuring scene after scene of sexual violence, awful characters, and downright nastiness. It's not particularly surprising to learn that it was swiftly assigned the "controversial" tag upon its release in its native Korea, but that's far from the worst thing about it. After all, there's nothing wrong with being controversial, but there should really be some sort of worthwhile message, and failing that it would at least be nice to be presented with an even and comprehensible plotline..