Reviews::Main

Director: Ki-duk Kim Year: 2004 Language: Korean (English Sub) Country: South Korea

Tae-Suk is a young man who survives by breaking into the houses of strangers when they are on holiday and staying in their home for a couple of days. He repays their unaware hospitality by fixing things around the house or doing their laundry. One day he breaks into a house in a rich neighbourhood and finds that it is not unoccupied. A woman who has been attacked by her abusive husband remains in the house. Together the pair elope and continue Tae-Suk's habit of breaking into unoccupied properties.

Like many of Ki-Duk Kim's films, 3-Iron takes a unique premise and creates a film of great beauty from it. As with most of Kim's other films, the cinematography is excellent, there is very little dialogue which leaves the actors to portray their characters' emotions through their expressions and actions, a task which the lead pair succeed in wholly. There's some violence which has also become a Ki-Duk Kim staple, but it's far more toned down when compared to other movies by the director.

Overall, 3-Iron is well shot, interesting and thoughtful. It's not going to be for everyone, but if you're a fan of other films by Ki-Duk Kim, you'll likely enjoy this one.

Dave W - 20th April, 2010 - 21:33