Heads Up, Ears Down

This blog accurately identifies depictions of violence and cruelty toward animals in films. The purpose is to provide viewers with a reliable guide so that such depictions do not come as unwelcome surprises. Films will be accurately notated, providing a time cue for each incident along with a concise description of the scene and perhaps relevant context surrounding the incident. In order to serve as a useful reference tool, films having no depictions of violence to animals will be included, with an indication that there are no such scenes. This is confirmation that the films have been watched with the stated purpose in mind.


Note that the word depictions figures prominently in the objective. It is a travesty that discussions about cruelty in film usually are derailed by the largely unrelated assertion that no animals really were hurt (true only in some films, dependent upon many factors), and that all this concern is just over a simulation. Not the point, whether true or false. We do not smugly dismiss depictions of five-year-olds being raped because those scenes are only simulations. No, we are appalled that such images are even staged, and we are appropriately horrified that the notion now has been planted into the minds of the weak and cruel.


Depictions of violence or harm to animals are assessed in keeping with our dominant culture, with physical abuse, harmful neglect, and similar mistreatment serving as a base line. This blog does not address extended issues of animal welfare, and as such does not identify scenes of people eating meat or mules pulling plows. The goal is to itemize images that might cause a disturbance in a compassionate household.


These notes provide a heads-up but do not necessarily discourage watching a film because of depicted cruelty. Consuming a piece of art does not make you a supporter of the ideas presented. Your ethical self is created by your public rhetoric and your private actions, not by your willingness to sit through a filmed act of violence.

Showing posts with label Korean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Korean. Show all posts

Io Island

Io Island (Ieoh Island, Ieodo). Kim Ki-young, 1977.

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Edition screened: Included in Severin Blu-ray box set All the Haunts Be Ours: A Compendium of Folk Horror Volume 2, released 2024. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 110 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.


The Io Island disk in the set also includes The Present (Joe Hsieh, 2013) and Kindil El Bahr (Damien Ounouri, 2016).


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Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (Gon-ji-am). Jung Bum-shik, 2018.

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Edition screened: Well Go USA Blu-ray, released 2018. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 95 minutes.


Summary: A quick instance of a dead bird on the filthy floor and a modified rubber chicken, but no particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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Zombie for Sale

Zombie for Sale (Gimyohan gajok). Lee Min-jae, 2019.

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Edition screened: Arrow Blu-ray released 2020. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 112 minutes.


Summary: Two brief scenes around the six minute mark suggest that a domestic rabbit has just been murdered. There is no violence, blood or other evidence, and an inattentive viewer probably would miss the entire implication.


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The Witch: Subversion

The Witch: Subversion (Manyeo). Park Hoon-jung, 2018.

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Edition screened: Warner Bros. Blu-ray, released 2020. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 125 minutes.


Summary: A pack of vicious dogs is released on a young girl 1:25:26. Cut to her covered in blood after killing them all, and we see one dog lying in blood, 1:25:46-2:25:49.


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New World (Park)

New World (Sinsegye). Park Hoon-jung, 2013.

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Edition screened: Well Go Blu-ray, released 2013. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 135 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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Incoherence

Incoherence (Ji-ri-myeol-lyeol). Bong Joon-ho, 1994.

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Edition screened: Included on Criterion Blu-ray #1073 Memories of Murder, released 2021. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 31 minutes.


Summary: No animals in the film.


Of the Bong films I have seen, I enjoyed this student film the most by far and not because it is the shortest. Smacks of Haneke.


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Memories of Murder

Memories of Murder (Salinui chueok). Bong Joon-ho, 2003.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #1073, released 2021. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 131 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.

 

The Criterion BD also includes Bong’s student film Incoherence, recommended.


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Bedevilled

Bedevilled (The Whole Story of Kim Bok-nam's Murder Case/Kim Bok-nam salinsageonui jeonmal). Jang Cheol-soo, 2010.

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Edition screened: Well Go DVD, released 2012. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 115 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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Barking Dogs Never Bite

Barking Dogs Never Bite (Flandersui gae). Bong Joon-ho, 2000.

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Edition screened: Not viewed; submitted by a kind reader. Korean language. Runtime approximately 110 minutes.


Summary: At the beginning of the film, a man who is annoyed by a barking dog attempts to kill it in various ways such as throwing it from the top of the apartment building and strangling it with a rope. Before the film starts there is a caption that says something like “the scenes with dogs were shot under the supervision of doctors” which does not justify the fact that the dogs clearly were abused.


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Peppermint Candy (Lee Chang-dong)

Peppermint Candy (Bakha satang). Lee Chang-dong, 2000.

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Edition screened: Not viewed; submitted by a kind reader. Korean language. Runtime approximately 129 minutes.


Summary: Around 52:10 the main character kicks a dog until his wife stops him.


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I Saw the Devil

I Saw the Devil (Ang-ma-reul bo-at-da). Kim Jee-woon, 2010.
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Edition screened: Magnet Blu-ray, released 2011. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 142 minutes.

Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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Parasite (Bong)

Parasite (Gisaengchung). Bong Joon-ho, 2019.
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Edition screened: Universal Blu-ray, released 2020. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 132 minutes.

Summary: Pointless killing of an insect.

Details: A man dispatches a camel cricket, 2:41.

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Thirst (Park Chan-Wook)

Thirst (Bakjwi). Park Chan-Wook, 2009.
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Edition screened: Tartan Blu-ray, released 2010. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 133 minutes.

Summary: Near the end of the film, disarray of a domestic interior after a fight includes what appears to be a dead snake or eel lying on the floor; unclear.



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Woman Chasing the Butterfly of Death

Woman Chasing the Butterfly of Death (Salinnabileul ggotneun yeoja). Kim Ki-Young, 1978.
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Edition screened: Mondo Macabro Blu-ray, released 2019. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 117 minutes.

Summary: Butterflies killed.

Details:
1) Portrayal of butterfly killed by poison injection, 2:47-2:52.
2) Moth killed with spray paint, 1:20:04-1:20:12.
3) Butterfly collections pinned to specimen boards throughout. 


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The Handmaiden

The Handmaiden (Ah-ga-ssi). Park Chan-wook, 2016.
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Edition screened: Curzon/Artificial Eye ‘Extended Cut’ Blu-ray, released 2017. Korean and Japanese with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 168 minutes.


Summary: No particular depictions of violence or harm to animals.
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Lady Vengeance

Lady Vengeance (Chinjeolhan geumjassi). Park Chan-Wook, 2005.
😿 😿
Edition screened: Included in Palisades/Tartan Vengeance Trilogy Blu-ray set, released 2010. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 112 minutes.

Summary: Off-screen murder of a puppy.

Details:
1) In a dream, a nightmarish dog-monster is shot in the head while restrained, 13:38-13:52.
2) We see a pistol barrel pushed against a puppy’s face, then off-screen gun shot 51:06-51:19. No blood or view of the puppy after the implied shooting.

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Oldboy

Oldboy (Boksuneun naui geot). Park Chan-Wook, 2003.
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Edition screened: Included in Palisades/Tartan Vengeance Trilogy Blu-ray set, released 2010. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 120 minutes.

Summary: Depicted death of a dog; gory killing of an octopus.

Details:
1) Oldboy begins with a small dog and his owner dangling off a tall building, 0:53-1:18. Same scene from a different angle, 20:05-20:41. We see the man crash on to the roof of a car, still clutching the dog, 21:50-21:55. This scene is played for a quick laugh of sorts, with no blood, detail, or effort made to disguise that both bodies are dummies.
2) A live octopus is served at a sushi bar. Its head is violently bitten off and its writhing tentacles partially eaten, 27:35-28:35. The scene succeeds in its intension to be repulsive and horrifying.

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Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (Boksuneun naui geot). Park Chan-Wook, 2002.
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Edition screened: Included in Palisades/Tartan Vengeance Trilogy 3-Blu-ray set, released 2010. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 129 minutes.


Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.

















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Bad Guy

Bad Guy (Nabbeun namja). Kim Ki-Duk, 2001.
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Edition screened: LifeSize DVD, released 2005. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 100 minutes.

Summary: No depictions of violence or harm to animals.


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The Housemaid (Kim)

The Housemaid (Hanyo). Kim Ki-Young, 1960.
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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #690 in box set #684 Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project No. 1, released 2013. Korean language with English subtitles. Runtime approximately 108 minutes.

Summary: A rat is shown dying.

Details:
1) We hear the housemaid beating a rat to death, then see her hold a dead rat by the tail, 24:25-24:34.
2) We see a rat convulsing and dying of poisoning, 26:38-26:46.

















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