An old man has been raising a young girl since she was a baby. Living on the coast in his boat, they live a relatively simple life, hiring the boat to fisherman as well as telling fortunes using a bow and arrow. They also plan to marry when she reaches her 17th birthday. But she's 16 now, and when a young teenager joins them on a trip, their relationship, it awakens deeper feelings of desire and jealousy. Newly rising passions threaten to upset and destroy their previously undisturbed harmony. Can the old man retain his control or will she asserts her own identity?
Kim Ki-Duk has emerged as one of Korea's leading filmmakers, frequently tackling the problematic issues of post-colonialism and the generation gap. He explores the troubled psyche of people who have been scarred by the past or events in films such as Address Unknown and The Coastguard. Equally, he has startled with his combined exploration of sexual relations and brutality as seen in Bad Guy and The Isle.
The Bow follows many of these themes, exploring the bonds of human nature, and adds a sprinkling of magical realism. He sets his characters in an isolated environment and employing little dialogue, allows the action to speak for itself. The significance of the bow itself, which serves as both a weapon of defence and a soothing musical instrument, mimics the moral ambiguity set up by the situation. The creeping sense of claustrophobic tension provides a few genuine surprises that compares with The Isle. A link to his previous films is also provided by his leading actress Han Yeo-Reum who appeared in Samaritan Girl. The Bow is a stylish, allegorical fable that is sure to hit its emotional target. DVD extras include Anamorphic presentation DTS Digital Surround 5.1; Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround; Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
THE BOW is available on retail DVD only (rrp £19.99) from 12th of February 2007.
