Peppermint Candy (1999)
Introduction
Peppermint Candy is a Korean film that was released in 1999, authored and directed by Chang Lee Dong. The movie follows the life of young man by the name Kim Yong-ho and examines the influential events in his life that resulted in the place and devastating state as seen at the beginning of the film (Gucciha 9:30). The director utilizes a male devastated character as an expression or deficiency of that characterized the Korean society in the 80s and 90s based on the socio-economic and political crisis. The film can thus be categorized as a farce that explores how the social economic state can shape an individual’s life. The movie tells the story in a reverse chronology where at the start the readers are introduced to an individual at the edge (Gucciha 2:20). The true objective of the film is to demonstrate that an oppressive and manipulative society leads to the loss of individuality thus creating a sense of hopelessness and love deficiency on people. Peppermint Candy is a rare film that was efficient in almost every aspect where the structuring, unique characterization and filming was objected at exploring the Korean history via a devastating character’s life.
The movie is comprised of several unique, engaging and stimulating points for this film. The manner in which the movie is structure is unique given that it offers a chronological reverse of the main character’s story. For most films flashbacks begins at the beginning progressing to the present time. However, in Peppermint Candy, the story is followed starting from the present reversing to the timeline start where the life of Yong-ho is viewed from present to the previous living (Gucciha 34:12). Through the utilization of this unique approach, the life of Yong-ho is demonstrated in a manner that a number of the most tragic events are only unveiled near the story’s end. The director also utilizes the train as an imagery in signifying the reversing of time that was effective in linking the whole story. Every part is presented as a different chapter and this effectively facilitated to the smooth progression and additionally helped in the differentiation of plot chunks for easier understanding. The manner in which the movie starts and ends is an additional unique and well-structured part. In that, it begins at the picnic location where Yong-ho met with Sun-in some years ago and it also ends at the same location (Gucciha 2:20).
Yong-ho is deemed as the primary narrative instrument in which the director discovers the negative forces that the sort of changes has generated on the South Korean populace in general. This ranges from the economic crisis that occurred in the 1990s to the government military dictatorial ruling in the 80s. Through its storyline, the movie describes the tumultuous occurrences that designed Yong-ho’s life and Korean socio-economic landscape (Gucciha 37:45). An additional historical event that is demonstrated through the character’s story is the Gwangju massacre which led to the killing of schooling girls. The demonstration of such historical events through the character’s story offers the viewer’s an opportunity to understand the impact of facing such trials and how the experience of such events can alter an individual irreversibly.
The characters portrayal in the movie is fascinating and well organized. Yong-ho starts the film as an unlikeable individual with a shortage of redeeming characteristics which leave the viewer with conflicting feeling in his regard (Gucciha 6:00). As the film progresses more revelation of the characters opposing sides are revealed and how he is shaped by his previous incidents given that is not able to escape from their memories. Through this character, the director demonstrates the manner in which the effects of the things that one goes through cannot be separated from oneself.
The film’s setting and scenes presentation are very evocative, which generates an empathetic mood. The film utilizes effective scenes and imagery throughout in creating more comprehension on the concepts of the film to its viewers. Throughout the film in often, cases during some significant events in Yong-ho’s life a train passes by or is shown in the particular scene as a link between the past and the present. For instance during his military career when he shot a girl the incident occurred next to the rail station (Gucciha 1:56:58). This is an indication of one of his life’s turning point. In addition, this acts as a constant reminder to the viewers of the movie’s beginning and the ultimate Yong-ho's death aided by train. This is a creative aspect one of which makes it be unique in terms of structuring.
The film also offers several conflicting themes which are specifically demonstrated via Yong-ho’s story. Innocence is one of the prime ideas. As demonstrated by the film’s last scenery Yong-ho portrays actual innocence as an aspiring photographer, who shyly observes Sun-im. With the story’s progress, the viewer’s identifies the point where circumstances crushed his innocence. For instance, he rejects this innocence when during the military period the peppermints are crushed as well as when he repudiated from acquiring the camera from Sun-im (Gucciha 35:50). The camera acts as a symbol of his youthfulness which was full of hopes as well as principles. The train, therefore, passes even after he had cheated on his wife which denotes the story’s reversal that offers an indication of South Korean history which is articulated via the idea of backward traveling (Gucciha 47:03). Both Peppermint and the camera are a representation of his innocence which is destroyed (Gucciha 36:39). The film utilizes a rather simplified story of the devastated man to create a close connection with the viewer’s given that his situation is one to which everyone can relate to. In addition to the film’s critique of the effects of the social political crisis on the economy and individual’s wellness, it is also a criticism against the military. Between the 80s and 90s, the Korean military deemed men as failing thing via traumatic events. Yong-ho becomes a brutal person immediately after he shot a young girl accidentally.
Conclusion
In general, the film is effective in delivering a link amid socio-economic and political crisis with individual’s life. The film utilizes symbolism, imagery, flashback conflicting themes in an effective way in offering the movie more depth, different dimensions and uniqueness adding to its plot. The aspects of delivering the story are well organized and particularly creative where every part of the film’s plot is prudently intertwined with its central ideas which are strategically set within the story to ensure that the viewer’s establish more in regard to Yong-ho's tragic life. The movie is a critique of an oppressive and manipulative socio-economic and political systems that result in the suffering of the public.
Work Cited
Gucciha, Sasuke. Peppermint Candy (1999) English Sub. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OzLbqMF28w&t=952s
