#MIFF Day 4: Korean Double, Paju and The Housemaid (2010)

On tonight's menu was back to back Korea films, Paju (2009) and The Housemaid (2010). Both films were dramas of very differing styles and tone.

Paju (2009), South Korea, was little hard to follow in parts due to the poor editing style. The story takes between over an eight year period visiting between current day, three and eight year marks in the story. In different scenes it was hard to spot the different time as the characters really didn't age over the time period which made it difficult for the audience to identify which point in the story.

The film revolves around Kim who arrives in Paju after a horrific incident in Seoul where a baby was seriously hurt. He returns to a church group and marries a village girl, Choi who's sister, Eun-mo is a student in Kim's bible class. Eun-mo is resentful about Kim and her sister's relationship. The tension builds between them until Choi is killed in a tragic accident.  A few years down the track, after Kim has raised Eun-mo like a father. She decides to steal her college fund money after her relationship with Kim deteriorate.

Eun-mo arrives back in Paju after being away for three years in Indian. Kim and Eun-mo reconnected with the mystery of what actually happened to her sister still being a sore point better each other.  Paju is a slow paced film that pays off in the end, even if it is a little confusing in parts.



The Housemaid (2010), South Korea, is a stylish melodrama that is opulent in style and production design. The simple story of Eun-yi getting hired as a housemaid with upper class family. She soon finds herself the object of desire by the master of the house, Hoon. Mi-hee ( Hoon's wife) is pregnant with twins and soon becomes aware of the affair. Eun-yi becomes the thorn in the side for all the players, as the old housemaid, Byung-sik, stirs the pot of this brewing disaster.



This remake of the original from 1960 is directed by Sang-soo Im who delivered a very different film. Sang-soo has made an enjoyable melodrama, but it's not without it's flaws which will make interesting discussion points for audiences. As the final scene probably reveals more details than what is initially obvious.