Now Watching: Lady Vengeance

Lady Vengeance is the third film in what’s popularly known as the ‘Vengeance Trilogy’ by director Park Chan-wook. Three films – Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, Oldboy and Lady Vengeance – each with the subject of revenge at their core. But though they share a common theme, each film is actually quite unique.

They each have their own distinctive narrative, structure, tone and style. They also deal with the subject of revenge very differently. But if there’s one thing all three films have in common, it’s that they do find humour within the heart of tragedy.

I’d say Sympathy for Mr Vengeance is the most conventionally shot and structured of the trilogy. It’s also the most bleak and depressing. Oldboy probably has the most engaging concept and narrative, and features a fantastic performance by Choi Min-sik, but it’s Lady Vengeance which is easily my favourite of the three.

The narrative may lack the complexity or immediate mystery of Oldboy, but it’s far more stylish in terms of visuals, audio and structure. The first half of the film is like a shifting puzzle with pieces of the story slowly falling into place.

It’s the most daring and unconventional of the three in how it presents its narrative. It’s also the darkest in terms of subject matter, but also, conversely, the funniest. I also think it’s the most interesting in terms of how it explores its themes.

The trailer for Lady Vengeance is incredibly misleading because it presents the film as more of a straightforward tale of revenge. But that’s not really what the film is about. It’s the story of Lee Geum-ja (Lee Young-ae) a young woman imprisoned for the kidnap and murder of a young boy. But Lee Geum-ja is innocent, and she’s spent the 13 years of her incarceration plotting her revenge against the real villain.

I won’t spoil any more of the plot than that, but what I will say is that it doesn’t unfold this tale in a conventional way. The film slides between events in the past and present, slowly building the picture of her time in prison and how the pieces of her plan fall into place.

Lee Young-ae gives a fantastic performance as Lee Geum-ja. Even when she secures the revenge she seeks, the conflict of emotion is clear to see. Because Lady Vengeance is as much about seeking redemption as it is revenge. It’s a film that relies more upon visuals and performance to tell its story as it does dialogue.

That’s why it’s my favourite of the ‘revenge trilogy’. It’s not just the story, but it’s how the story is told. It’s a film I always find something new to appreciate every time I see it. It’s dark, stylish, funny and moving.

9/10