Sorum

Korea produced only two horror films in 2001, nonetheless the genre was pushed in new directions by the eerie debut film SORUM. Premiering at the Puchon Fantastic Film Festival in July, the film was embraced by local critics and credited with giving the industry one of its strongest works of the year. More creepy than scary, the movie tells the story of a young taxi driver who moves into a dilapidated old apartment building. Soon thereafter he befriends one of his neighbors, a woman who is beaten by her husband, and hears from another neighbour of the strange history behind the room he has moved into. Director Yoon Jong-chan had already made a name for himself in the industry with the inventive short films he directed while a student at Syracuse. Films like PLAYBACK and MEMENTO, helpfully included in SORUM's DVD release, provide stylistic and thematic links to his debut work. Yoon's interest in personal history, together with the unsettling mood he creates, makes for a memorable watch. Despite being a somewhat grim movie, visually SORUM is one of the most gorgeous films of the year. The apartment building where much of the story takes place is so stark and dilapidated that it resembles a work of art. Yoon also put great care into his low-key lighting, creating subtle colors and shadows which are beautiful to watch. The film's actors have received much praise, particularly Chang Jin-young for her raw portrait of a woman racked with loss and guilt. In December she received Korea's Blue Dragon award, honoring her as the best actress of the year. This isn't a film that everyone will enjoy; in some ways it's more suited for people who don't like horror movies. Yet the film's mood and artistic sensibilities make it one of the year's most interesting movies.