Archive of films Oasis / Oh-ah-si-seu

South Korea
2002, 132 min

Section: Horizons - Award-Winning Films
Year: 2003

Hong Jong-du returns home from prison but his family wrote off this mildly retarded man long ago. By chance he meets Gong-ju, a young woman afflicted with cerebral palsy who is treated similarly by her own family. Tender bonds of friendship and love begin to form between the two social outcasts. 59th Venice IFF: The Special Prize for Best Director, the FIPRESCI Prize, and the Marcello Mastroianni Prize for emerging talent (Moon So-ri).

Synopsis

Upon his release from prison, Hong Jong-du goes looking for his relatives in Seoul. His brothers have moved and neither they and nor their mother are pleased to see him. Mildly retarded, Jong-du has continually been in and out of trouble because he just can’t seem to fit into society. Finally he gets work at a small car repair shop. Unknown to the family, he has found out the address of a man whose death he was involved in. There he meets the man’s daughter, Gong-ju, who is afflicted with cerebral palsy. Her brother and other relatives take little interest in her. Jong-du watches the girl in fascination, sends her flowers and fruit, and finally forces his way into her place. He does nothing to check his passion and tries to rape her. The girl has an attack and almost dies. In spite of everything, a fragile bond of friendship containing the seeds of love begins to form between the two outcasts. Jong-du is the only one who realizes that, despite her physical problems, his “princess” is an enchanting woman with a sense of humour. Those around them, however, aren’t willing to accept their relationship.

About the director

Lee Chang-dong (b. 1954, Taego) graduated in Korean language and literature and began a career in film, lecturing for 7 years. He is a respected author and an important figure on the contemporary Korean cultural scene. He wrote the script for To the Starry Island (1993), he then co-wrote Park’s A Single Spark (1995). He debuted in film with Chorok mulgoki (Green Fish, 1997), a winner of the Dragons & Tigers Award (best young director) at the 16th Vancouver IFF. Peppermint Candy (1999) followed; it was screened at Cannes, won three awards at Karlovy Vary. His third feature Oasis premiered internationally last year at the Venice IFF, taking the Special Prize for Best Director, the FIPRESCI Prize, and Moon So-ri was awarded the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actress.

Contacts

East Film
#502 Dong Soong Art Center, 1-5 DoongSoongdong, 110-809, Seoul
Korea (Republic of)
Tel: +82 2 762 0743
Fax: +82 2 762 0764
www: www.ttu.to

Cineclick Asia
3F Incline Bldg., 891-37 Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, 135-280, Seoul
Korea (Republic of)
Tel: +82 2 538 0211, 12
Fax: +82 2 538 0479
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.cineclickasia.com

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About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section:	Horizons - Award-Winning Films

Director:	Lee Chang-dong
Screenplay:	Lee Chang-dong
Dir. of Photography:	Choi Young-taek
Music:	Lee Jae-jin
Editor:	Kim Hyun
Producer:	Myung Kaynam, Cho Min-choul, Jay Jeon
Production:	East Film
Cast:	Sol Kyung-gu, Moon So-ri, Ahn Nae-sang, Ryoo Seung-wan, Chu Gui-jeong, Kim Jin-jin, Sohn Byung-ho, Yoon Ga-hyun, Park Myung-shin, Park Kyung-geun
Contact:	East Film, Cineclick Asia

www:	www.cineclickasia.com

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Young-joo Suh

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