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A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
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Movie Review by Zara 
March 12th, 2007
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Horror!!
Movies are hard to review when you don't speak the language. Comedies are easiest, as physical humor tends to be universal, regardless of lack of a grasp of the language. Dramas are a little rougher, since you have difficulty determining if an actor is over-reaching a scene or if there's just a lot of stress put on certain words in that language. Horror flicks are the hardest because different cultures tend to believe different things are scary. Plus it's hard to read dialogue and also pay attention to what might be stirring in the background. A TALE OF TWO SISTERS (Originally titled "Janghwa, Hongryeon" in Korean) is able to bypass that issue.
The visuals in this flick are what sell it. Sharp contrasting colors against a dull background help characters to stand out. The dialogue is simple and stunted because the story is focusing on a young woman who has some mental issues. Much of the emotions are conveyed beautifully through the wide-eyed gaze of the young actress, and the stern grimace of Jung-ah Yum, the actress who portrays the young woman's stepmother. The entire flick is a feast for the eyes from beginning to ending, with brilliant lighting and cinematography. The main problem I saw in the movie was in the constant twists and turns. I personally have a limit, although I know of many people who can't get enough switcheroos.
It was my sister who convinced me to watch the flick and, being a Japanese language student, explained some of the Asian culture references that I did not understand, but you don't necessarily need to know them to enjoy the movie. She was such a huge fan of this flick that she went out and devoured all of Ji-woon Kim's other movies. Apparently the rest of his resume is filled with very similar outings and he is commonly referred to as the M. Night Shyamalan of Korea. In any case, I find his eye to be extremely acute. A TALE OF TWO SISTERS is an excellent thriller, worthy of a look, and more than a couple of double takes.
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