Post Description

Failan (2001) NTSC DVD5
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Plot or synopsis Darcy Paquet review: The (quasi-)melodrama Failan made a quiet debut at the end of April, opposite Hollywood blockbusters Hannibal and The Mexican. Audience interest was moderate at first, but with time the film acquired a strong group of admirers and people began to talk about one of the most original films of the year. With interest from overseas festivals running high and the star power provided by its female lead, this film is likely to travel far.

Lately an increasing number of Chinese and Japanese stars have signed on to act in Korean films. In Failan, Hong Kong top star Cecilia Cheung plays a Chinese woman of Korean descent named Failan who, after the death of her parents, comes to Korea to make a living. She pays for a fake marriage in order to obtain a working permit, but is then led unwitting into a bar to work as a prostitute. Only by some quick thinking is she able to escape her situation and find a job at a laundromat run by an old woman.

Meanwhile her legal husband, a third-rate gangster played by Choi Min-shik (Oldboy, Shiri, Happy End), is embroiled in troubles of his own. He dreams of returning to his hometown, but feuds with fellow gang members as his life increasingly nears collapse. One day he receives a letter written in halting Korean from his wife, whom he has never met.

Watching this film develop is in some ways like discovering a diamond in the trash. The story reveals for us emotions which we don't expect, but the film is not "uplifting" in the usual sense. Rather it makes us question feelings which we take for granted.

Director Song Hae-sung seems to have found himself in his second feature. His directing style never overshadows the film, but it provides space for this remarkable story to develop. He also makes excellent use of Choi Min-shik, perhaps the most talented actor in Korea today. Unfortunately Cecilia Cheung's character is not presented with the same depth; this is the film's main fault, perhaps attributable as much to the screenwriters and director as to the actress herself. Nonetheless Failan is one of the year's must-sees, and a personal favorite. (koreanfilm.org)  



 IMDb Link........: imdb.com/title/tt0289181/   7.9 rating
 Genre............: Drama | Romance
 Distributor......: Tube Ent.
 Year.............: 2001
 Country..........: S. Korea
 Director.........: Song Hae-seong

 Source...........: DVD9 Retail (credits to Mastameta@ADC)
 DVD Format.......: NTSC
 DVD Size.........: DVD5
 Programs used....: DVD Remake Pro/ADC Rebuilder PC2
 
 Screen Format....: Anamorphic Widescreen
 Audio Language...: Korean
 Audio Format.....: DD 5.1
 Subtitles........: English
 Run Time.........: 01:55:13

 Menu.............: Edited
 Video............: Re-encoded
 DVD Extras.......: Stripped



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All credits go to Mastameta@ADC!!!
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Enjoy this excellent Korean movie !!!
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Loggie :-)