On a irrelevantly-related film

The past 7 weeks of this semester had been extremely hectic. Everything seems like it's in a huge mess. Weekly quizzes, periodic assignments, mid-semester exams, tons paperwork for various applications, friendships, relationships... EVERYTHING. I'm so tired of chasing deadlines.

So in an effort to change the tempo, I went to Chifley to rent a DVD today. Yet it didn't feel like I was watching a regular movie. The endless rice fields, the architecture of the buildings, the layout of the houses, the schools, the uniforms that the school girls wore, the food that was eaten, the tone of a language I don't understand, the body language of the actors and actresses... All were closely observed so as to understand a little bit more of Hwaseong, a little bit more about her.

The award-winning Memories of Murder wasn't as gruesome, scary nor haunting as how I'd imagined it to be. It was actually, a very factual film that presented the frustrations of the investigators as well as the elusiveness of serial murderer who's still at large. Like most good Asian films, stereotypical Hollywood elements of explosives and sex was left out as the film tells a tale of how the case gradually attached itself onto the investigators' hearts. What started as an opportunity to break a big case, manifested into something that was more than just a case. The investigators were emotionally attached to it. One can only assume that such is normal in a small city like Hwaseong, where ripples of any major incident can easily affect everybody. What more during a chaotic time in Korea where student riots were prevalent and invasion from the North seemed imminent.

I remember my scriptwriting lecturer saying that all good films must be able to connect to the masses, regardless of the theme or storyline. Memories of Murder was such a film. Of course I couldn't relate to police officers and serial murders but seeing how frantically they were trying to break the case seemed to have struck a cord somewhere within me. Yes. It was that desperation of trying to resolve something which connected me to the film. I know that feeling. In fact, I know it quite well.

Oh well, it's time to get my ass crackin'. 3 more weeks before the mid-semester break. One major essay to submit this Friday. Gotta make sure I get at least a D.