Recently released on Blu-ray by Well Go USA Entertainment is
the Korean drama The Tiger: An Old
Hunter’s Tale, an expertly crafted and touching tale that has a great deal
of depth yet is truly epic in its scale. Set during the Japanese occupation of
Korea in 1925, it is about an old and experienced hunter and his connection to
the last Korean tiger that is being hunted down by Japanese soldiers and a
group of local hunters.
The story may sound quite simple, but it is actually deeply
layered and goes beyond just a tiger being hunted. There are multiple themes examine
love, the relationship between a father and his children, respecting nature,
Korean traditions and their cultural history, war and pacifism. An underlying
theme in this is that the tiger represents more than just an animal; he is
symbolic of the Korean nation and their unity in standing up against the invading
Japanese. It was written and directed by Hoon-jung Park, who wrote the
screenplay for I Saw the Devil as
well as his 2013 film New World. Both
should be considered must sees.
The direction and cinematography are absolutely stunning.
Taking place in a mountainous region located in the southern part of South
Korea, there are many breathtaking and grand scenic shots during both the
winter and fall seasons. The camera angles, placement, and movement are all
expertly crafted. There is also a good mix of various close ups, overhead, and
dolly shots that when combined with the editing make a masterful combination.
Cinematographer Mo-gae Lee delivers once again, as he has done before with I Saw the Devil, The Good, the Bad, the
Weird, and countless other pictures.
The period costumes and set designs are all finely crafted.
The special effects and makeup are decent for the most part. There are a few
sequences in which the tiger doesn’t look as realistic as it had in other
parts, mostly when it involves running at a fast speed. However, it’s hard not
to expect a non-Hollywood movie to do any better than what they were able to
achieve. The score from veteran composer Yeong-wook Jo is powerful and helps
ramp up the tension, with its use of drums and deep horns. It adds onto the
grand scale that is already being presented visually.
The acting is superb, with essentially four main characters.
Min-sik Choi portrays the old hunter and gives a powerful performance both
physically and emotionally. He is probably best known for starring in Oldboy, but has shown throughout his
career an ability to play vastly different roles. Man-sik Jeong is terrific as
another hunter, whose obsession with killing the tiger is similar to Ahab in Moby Dick. Jung Suk Won plays a Japanese
soldier with a Korean heritage, and is really the only Japanese character that
is any more than one-dimensional. The last really big star is the tiger, which
despite being CGI has a very distinct personality and conveys a wide range of
emotions. I don’t think this motion picture would have been as poignant without
his depth.
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Score
-Raul Vantassle