This “Limited Edition” Blu-ray from Radiance Films is currently available for purchase.
Today, South Korea is known as an international powerhouse in cinema. In the 21st century, the country’s filmmakers have created such notable works as The Handmaiden, The Host, I Saw the Devil, No Other Choice, Oldboy, Parasite, Snowpiercer, Train to Busan and many, many others. However, superb works of art were also made in the 1970s, despite citizens living under an authoritarian government. One of those pictures was Splendid Outing, a drama that managed to hit audiences with a modern message criticizing the treatment of women. It’s also remarkable that it managed to avoid heavy cuts from the country’s censor board.
The film is now considered one of the country’s finest. It has a dreamlike tone and an arthouse flair, with eerie images that distressing sequences that leave a lasting impression. This is a landmark picture of the era that will chill audiences, who will empathize with its lead character. Radiance Films is now debuting the film on Blu-ray for western audiences to finally catch up with. They have conducted a 4K image restoration for this release, which arrives with excellent bonus material providing even more context and meaning for those unfamiliar with life in the country during the 1970s. It’s another strong release from the stellar distributor.
Gong Do-hee (Yoon Jeong-hee) is a successful corporate businesswoman who manages her own multi-million-dollar company in Seoul. Despite experiencing a few sexist comments on the job, she’s happy and takes great pride in her accomplishments, treating those around her (especially other female entrepreneurs) with kindness. After having a dream about her deceased twin sister, Gong Do-hee decides to take a vacation to the seaside and try to relax. Shockingly, she is kidnapped by an abusive fisherman who claims she is his runaway wife. No one stops the nasty figure as he takes her to his remote home on a nearby island.
Now trapped, she is verbally and physically abused by her captor, who forces her to do his bidding around the house. Even worse, when she attempts to tell other islanders about the situation, they don’t believe her. Gong Do-hee thinks she might get some assistance from the man’s lover, but the woman also treats the protagonist poorly. In fact, the lady sees Gong Do-hee toiling away as a great benefit to her life and relationship with the fisherman. After an extended period of suffering, the lead finally sees a chance to escape, but even if she does make it back, will anyone in Seoul believe her story?
The movie certainly has a dreamlike feel at times, with the main character sleeping and the world around her appearing strange and unwelcome. It’s a beautifully shot film, but one that also feels like a nightmare come to life. Dream sequences used in the story intertwine effectively with scenes in the real world and they really make viewers question the way society has been set up. Of course, it also brings to light the nasty treatment that women have to endure and overcome. It isn;t depicted in a graphic manner, but the ugliness on display still makes an impact.
It’s also frustrating to witness the treatment of Gong Do-hee by everyone after she is taken. Despite pleas to local doctors, almost no one takes her claims seriously. She does manage to make contact with the mainland at one point in the tale, but the reaction of city folk isn’t any better. It seems no one is much interested in this important woman’s well-being or even looking into her kidnapping claims.
Yoon Jeong-hee keeps a lid on all of the torture she’s experiencing for much of the running time, only breaking down when it seems that no hope is in sight. It’s a powerfully understated performance that makes an impression. One can really feel for the character, who is consistently treated as a servant by her captor and no longer possesses any power in the world. As mentioned, while the seaside location is beautiful, it does feel completely isolated and the tone is effectively dreary throughout. Overall, this is a powerful film with a strong message. Personally, I’m not entirely sure about the final twist at the end, but it is a minor complaint. This is definitely a masterwork that can still move people almost 50 years after it was made.
The image quality on display isn’t perfect, but is solid and likely as sharp as the film can possibly look. Most of the photography is impressive, although there are some instances here and there of scratches running down the side of the film. They aren’t distracting, but do pop up every now and then. This is likely due to damage during the original photography or the source material in general, which one assumes can’t be corrected unless a massive restoration is funded. But the occasional scratch running down the image is very subtle and doesn’t take away much from the experience. The locations are visually striking, from the bustling city streets of Seoul to the rocky island shoreline.
And the extras are equally informative and enlightening. There is a commentary from film historian Ariel Schudson, who does go into the numerous levels and meanings of the film. She discusses the work of prolific director Kim Soo-yang (Mist, Sorrow Even Up in Heaven), who seemed to have strong feelings about women’s rights and understood their challenges in dealing with patriarchy. The critic also notes how well she can relate with the feelings of the main character, and notes that the protagonist’s actions and behavior are more relatable to women than many heroines even in modern day titles. Her insight and comments are illuminating.
There is an interview with South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong, who worked with star Yoon Jeong-hee on two later pictures, Secret Sunshine (2007) and Poetry (2010). He talks about his experiences working with the actress and her deftness at subtly helping viewers understand her character’s emotional states. Sadly, he also notes how on their second collaboration (about a woman struggling with Alzheimer’s disease), the actress began experiencing symptoms of the condition herself, noting that it adds an even more tragic air to the proceedings.
Additionally, there is a discussion with assistant director Ching Ji-young, who recounts his time on the set of the film and his memories of the movie. Also included is an impressive video essay called Stranded but Not Afraid: The Island Women of Classic Korean Cinema. As it turns out, the story featured in this film was part of a trend of pictures showcasing women’s issues. Many of the stories would take place on remote island locales, and the critic describes several of them in detail. This is another interesting bonus that will leave viewers on the hunt for more South Korean dramas.
It all comes with a booklet containing new writing and analysis of the feature, noting just how important this film is in the history of South Korean cinema. It’s remarkable that a film as ahead of its time as Splendid Outing managed to sneak its way past censors. And it’s also stunning that the film hasn’t been available in this part of the world for so long. It’s a beautifully made picture with themes that are every bit as relevant today as they were when the movie was originally released. This disc also contains a wealth of features that will only add to one’s appreciation of the title. This Radiance Films “Limited Edition” Blu-ray is highly recommended to international film enthusiasts.
