The Daily Stream: In sympathy for Mr Vengeance, everyone has their reasons for revenge

2022 sees the release of director Park Chan-Wook's latest film, "Decision to Leave". Which is why now is the perfect time to go back and rewatch Park's previous films, "Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance" definitely included.

The film is the first in Park's themed "Vengeance" trilogy, followed by "Oldboy" and "Lady Vengeance". The configuration of "Mr. Vengeance" is however different from its two successors. These films focused on a single protagonist to avenge past wrongs committed by a clear evil. Here, things are a bit murkier; it's a group of people who do bad things to each other for understandable and humane reasons. When Dong-jin finally confronts Ryu, he even admits that he seems like a good guy, which is why he should understand that Dong-jin has to kill him.

Although "Mr. Vengeance" is a dark film, it is also an entertaining film. Between the constant bullshit of the characters and the black comedy, it sometimes feels like a Coen Brothers film transposed to Korea. The formula - a set of dark comedy where twists pile on twists - is one Park would revisit with his excellent 2016 thriller "The Handmaiden."

Each death in "Mr. Vengeance" (and there are many) pushes the story in a whole new direction. The violence comes in short bursts, which makes it all the more shocking. Yet the cleanest death is also the most breathtaking. This happens as a brief background interruption in a regular wide shot, so like Ryu, you don't realize what's happened until it's too late.