Fantastic Fest 2010 Review: Bedevilled
Bedevilled (2010)
Fantastic Fest 2010
Directed by: Jang Cheol-so
Starring: Ji Sung-won, Seo Yeong-hee
Review by: Britt Hayes
“I stared into the sun for long, and it spoke to me.”
First time director Jang Cheol-so’s Bedevilled is a breathtaking masterpiece. More than just another Korean revenge film (something Korea seems to be fond of and quite good at), Bedevilled is a meditation on the human condition, namely: complacency, and how complicit we are in the destruction of others when we find it easier and more comfortable to act as spectators.
Hae-won is a successful, young, single bank lender living in the big city of Seoul, but finds herself apathetic to those in need. After a conflict and unfortunate misunderstanding at work, she witnesses an assault. Out of fear and somewhat understandable self-serving detachment, she’s incapable of ID’ing the suspects. On an ordered vacation from her boss, Hae-won decides to visit Moo-do, the island she often visited to see her grandmother as a child, and where she formed a close friendship with another girl named Bak-nam. Bak-nam has been writing Hae-won for years, but her letters and pleas for help have gone ignored.
On the island of Moo-do, the men chew strange leaves and the small, isolated society exists under a disquieting matriarchy. Bak-nam is relentlessly abused and humiliated by her husband and brother-in-law with the support of the elder women, but Hae-won’s arrival brings the possibility of escape. Bak-nam hasn’t been strong enough to leave the island on her own. Raised there her entire life, Moo-do and the oppression she’s endured is all that she knows. After years of feeling worthless and the reinforcement that she is incapable of self-sufficiency, Bak-nam feels like she can’t do anything on her own, especially with a young daughter, whose best interests are always at the front of her mind.
But Hae-won’s apathy has followed her to Moo-do. She tells Bak-nam that she’s a grown woman; she can make her own decisions, and leave whenever she wants. Hae-won doesn’t understand why Bak-nam puts up with this treatment, when making decisions is just so… simple.
When Bak-nam finally snaps, Bedevilled becomes a tale of revenge, one that feels justified and incredibly gratifying.
As unlikable as she may seem at times, there’s something that we can empathize with in Hae-won’s behavior. Stressed out and disconnected, Hae-won is the representation of the citizens of the world. When Bak-nam and Hae-won’s relationship is tested, it’s difficult to choose a side. We’re rooting for Bak-nam to get justice, and as frustrated as we are with Hae-won for being compliant in Bak-nam’s ultimate downfall, it’s near impossible to know how the film should find resolution.
Jang Cheol-so does an astounding job of creating complex characters that don’t follow traditional paths or make predictable decisions. Aside from the men and the matriarchal clan who are all obvious villains, Hae-won and Bak-nam are interesting characters motivated by their loss of self. Hae-won is desperate to reclaim something she’s lost – a connection with humanity and the courage to take action – and she tries to find it in the last place she had an honest relationship with anyone. Bak-nam has grown up with no sense of true identity or self-respect. Her husband has sex with prostitutes inside their home while she sits outside listening, and teaches their daughter that being loved in this degrading manner by a man is the only way to survive this small life.
What begins as Hae-won’s story quickly develops into a story about Bak-nam, and ultimately their friendship, but the true story here is that of humanity. When you can’t help yourself, who will help you? And when you see someone in pain, will you reach out a hand or take the easy road and feign blindness? Can we blame Bak-nam for exacting revenge when everything in her life and her environment has fed into this psychosis? After so many years of conditioned response, there comes a breaking point. You beat a dog down for long enough, and it will turn on you and bite.
The beginning of the film feels reminiscent of Drag Me To Hell, and not knowing much about the film going in, I was certain this story was the same. Female banker, cold and indifferent to those in need to get ahead, forced to take vacation… And while the first thirty to forty five minutes do suffer some slight pacing issues, that’s really the only problem with the film.
Ji Sung-won and Seo Yeong-hee are impeccable in their leading roles, particularly Yeong-hee as Bak-wan, who turns her character around several times in a startling and impressive portrayal of a suffering woman who finally takes matters into her own, very capable hands. The hard island life has for once served her well. She changes from child-like and subservient to warrior-like and cold with ease, and then becomes almost unrecognizable by the end as she spins out of control into a lost, angry mess. Her pain by film’s end is slowly changing from wrath to sadness, loss, and angry confusion.
There are touching moments as we flash back to Hae-won and Bak-wan’s lives as children on Moo-do, and it’s here that our empathy is reinforced for both women. Their representations of the many sides of humanity are incredibly complicated and effective. Hae-won finds it easier to ignore and remove herself from guilt by steering clear of confrontation and conflict, yet acts so condescending to those who are weaker. If she has her life all figured out, why can’t Bak-nam do the same? Why can’t Bak-nam just leave the island, get a job, and take care of herself? Why must she always complain? Bak-nam is repressed, alone, and only knows what she’s told. She doesn’t know that she can leave because she knows that if she tries, she’ll most likely risk the life of not only herself, but her daughter.
Bedevilled is a brutal film about revenge when revenge is not only the singular answer, but the right answer. When your voice has been quieted to an inaudible whisper, the only way to respond is to scream and make yourself heard. In Bak-nam’s case, it’s with unrelenting violence. The end may be a bit of a stretch, and some questions (mainly those damn leaves) go unanswered, but Bedevilled is a ride that will leave your appetite for vengeance satisfied and fulfill you emotionally.
