Address Unknown by Kim Ki-duk Essay Example

of an injustice, manifested in harmful effect of western invasion. Korean people are ready to fight for their culture, traditions, and for Korean women. When the help of American soldier turns out to be a simple enslaving, Korean man represented by Ji-hum is ready to protect Eun-ok, Korean woman and motherland (Gateward, 256).

However, Western traditions manifest racial and sexual equality, which is important for spiritual development of Korean society. The craziness of Chang-gook’s mother explains the harmfulness of sexism (Gateward, 250). Chang-gook and his mother have a serious psychological trauma, they are devastated by persecution and humiliation. Tattooing and body deformation symbolize humiliation of social outcasts, prejudged by Korean society (Gateward, 259).

Chang-gook is a young man who understands the devastating effect of violence – he feels sorry for dogs and protects hiss friend, but when it comes to his mother, his internal pain reveals in aggression and violence towards her. Dog-eye protects Chang-gook’s mother, who is re?dy to neglect his feelings in her son’s favor, understanding that he will offend her in future. She is the nameless woman, who obeys (Gateward, 248).

This triangle of selective compassion and violence reveals misapprehension of ethical values and hysteria of offended people. Dog-eye tries to be a father for Chang-gook in a certain way, whereas Chang-gook rejects his mother and her friend due to their immorality, consequently, the acts of violence toward his mother and Dog-eye’s homicide were presented as a salvation and cleansing. The actions of Chang-gook’s mother after finding his body are the result of madness and rejection (Gateward, 259).

The film reveals uncertainties in Korean identity, double standards and personal integrity. Prejudice ruins people without

giving them the chance to live in tolerant society. Korean culture and history could be lost in Western enthrallment. Nevertheless, Kim Ki-duk considers American tolerance as a virtue that is missing in Korean scale of values. The misapprehended hierarchy of ethical values is crucial for Kim Ki-duk’s characters. Conservative society and poor life quality ruin the only chance to follow American dream, preserving Korea in people’s hearts.