The beauty of silence

While searching for information about a film director, I came across the poster of a film that is engraved in my memory due to the wonder and confusion experienced when watching it for the first time. 빈집(3 iron or Empty houses), directed by Kim Ki-duk allowed me to come in contact with a different way of making films that does not focus on special effects but rather on the story being told. Nevertheless the image is not disregarded. All of the resources are simply used to create the most magnificent story, portraying reality with elements of fantasy. That is why, after three years, I decided to watch the film once again and determine whether its charm was lost.

The story

Tae-suk is a young drifter who appears to be homeless by inclination as much as necessity; he squats in the homes of strangers while they're away, carefully seeing to it that no damage is done to the property and sometimes performing small household chores as display of gratitude. One day Tae-suk sneaks into a house where a number of photos of a beautiful model adorn the walls.After eating, washing up, and doing some minor repairs, Tae-suk discovers he's being watched by the woman of the house, Sun-hwa, and he soon recognises her as the model in the photos. However, Tae-suk sees that Sun-hwa has been badly bruised, and suspects she's been the victim of domestic violence. When Tae-suk returns to the home later that evening, his suspicions are confirmed as he sees Sun-hwa being slapped around by her husband, Min-kyo. Tae-suk impulsively bursts into the house, grabs a golf club, and attacks Min-kyo with it; moments later, Tae-suk and Sun-hwa ride away together on his scooter, and she silently joins him in his existence as a squatter, which slowly blossoms into a love affair.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

A reason for my fascination

The charm was definitely not lost and I enjoyed the film even more than the first time. The appeal of the film lies in the fact that silence becomes a character in the story.  The words spoken are scarce in the film, which is why the viewers are able to witness the power of body language in getting the message across. The fact that the two main characters experience the anguish and joy of their relationship without exchanging a single word is proof of it. Their bodies (especially their faces) are able to express such myriad of emotions that words are not missed. Their eyes speak of suffering, resilience and love. Their hands tell stories of selflessness and the inner desire to help. Their bodies carry the scars of physical and emotional pain but also of hope. Furthermore, the presence of Sun-hwa's husband as the character that speaks the most reinforces the need for silence due to the fact that his words generally involve humiliation and violence, which are complemented by the physical manifestation of them.

Silence is Tae-suk and Sun-hwa's constant companion. Not only does it witness their struggles for happiness but also constitutes their safety against the violence of words. Thus, the beauty of the film lies in what is not said, in the exquisite use of gestures and actions to portray an unusual love story.

Coming from a culture in which silence in a relationship is the prelude of problematic situations, a sign of awkwardness or loss of care, I find astonishing its existence as a shelter.