2008 Woodie Awards
'Oasis' shows humanity in a murderer
Gabriel Guerrero
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Entertainment
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The film, "Oasis" was originally released in 2002, and follows the character Jong-du Hong (Kyung-gu Sol) after being released from prison for involuntary manslaughter.
In the first few minutes of the film it is apparent that Jong-du lacks any semblance of manners, which is accompanied by his tendency to laugh at inappropriate times and, overall act very rudely.
These attributes combined with the rest of his traits, make him a complete social outcast.
However, upon the introduction of Jong-du's family, the rationale behind his character begins to solidify.
Save for Jong-du's youngest brother and mother, the rest of Jong-du's family treat him as though he were a second class citizen.
This is evidenced best by his sister-in-law, who explains to Jong-du how much of a burden he is on his family, and his eldest brother, who repeatedly beats him.
However, the film explains that Jong-du Hong is not merely a victim of circumstance, based on his prior arrest record which includes the charges of attempted rape and assault.
Kyung-gu Sol, who portrays Jong-du as the tragic hero, succeeds by focusing on Jong-du's raw and basic emotions. In addition, Sol is accomplished enough to convey Jong-du's lack of understanding of society, in a manner which gives Jong-du a na've innocence in the body of an ex-con.
The best way to describe Jong-du is to state that he is someone other people avoid; a person who most of us would move away from if he sat down next to us.
Without any semblance of rationale, director Chang-dong Lee, follows Jong-du as he visits the family of the man he murdered. It is possible that Jong-du went with the intention of apologizing.
Unfortunately, Jong-du's social ineptitude proves to infuriate the dead man's son. It is during this dispute that Jong-du learns of the dead man's daughter, Gong-ju Han (So-ri Moon), who suffers from cerebral palsy and lives by herself in her late father's apartment.
In the first few minutes of the film it is apparent that Jong-du lacks any semblance of manners, which is accompanied by his tendency to laugh at inappropriate times and, overall act very rudely.
These attributes combined with the rest of his traits, make him a complete social outcast.
However, upon the introduction of Jong-du's family, the rationale behind his character begins to solidify.
Save for Jong-du's youngest brother and mother, the rest of Jong-du's family treat him as though he were a second class citizen.
This is evidenced best by his sister-in-law, who explains to Jong-du how much of a burden he is on his family, and his eldest brother, who repeatedly beats him.
However, the film explains that Jong-du Hong is not merely a victim of circumstance, based on his prior arrest record which includes the charges of attempted rape and assault.
Kyung-gu Sol, who portrays Jong-du as the tragic hero, succeeds by focusing on Jong-du's raw and basic emotions. In addition, Sol is accomplished enough to convey Jong-du's lack of understanding of society, in a manner which gives Jong-du a na've innocence in the body of an ex-con.
The best way to describe Jong-du is to state that he is someone other people avoid; a person who most of us would move away from if he sat down next to us.
Without any semblance of rationale, director Chang-dong Lee, follows Jong-du as he visits the family of the man he murdered. It is possible that Jong-du went with the intention of apologizing.
Unfortunately, Jong-du's social ineptitude proves to infuriate the dead man's son. It is during this dispute that Jong-du learns of the dead man's daughter, Gong-ju Han (So-ri Moon), who suffers from cerebral palsy and lives by herself in her late father's apartment.
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