In this blog post, we will examine the characteristics of film noir and their narrative significance, focusing on the visual techniques used in the movie ‘A Bittersweet Life,’ such as lighting, composition, and reflected images. Introduction In an interview after directing the film, Director Kim Jee-woon said, “I wonder what I’m good at, and I don’t know which genre allows me to best...
Why do violence and capitalism recur in Korean noir films?
In this blog post, we examine the recurring invocation of violence and capitalism in Korean noir films, and summarize how genre traditions and social realities have intertwined to form a unique narrative. Noir, good vs. evil The blurring of who is good and who is evil is the most defining characteristic of noir films. The genre isn’t just about depicting crime and violence...