Paju (파주) (2009)

South Korea (Watchlist) (125 items)
list by Alan Ongaro

An excellent dramatic little gem from South Korea. It delves into some deep and scary themes, coupled with it's slow and sometimes confusing pace might scare away a few watchers. Those who stay behind are treated to a very thought provoking film exploring questions like 'what lengths would you go to for the people you love?'.

Description: 15-year-old Choi Eun-mo (Seo Woo) falls in love with her teacher Joong-shik (Lee Sun-Gyun), a mysterious new man in the town of Paju. Her feelings for Joong-shik changes when she learns that Joong-shik is dating her older sister Eun-soo (Shim Lee-Yeong). A year later, Joong-shik and Eun-soo are now married, with Eun-mo living with them. One day, when Joong-shik and Eun-soo are home alone, a sudden gas explosion causes the death of Eun-Soo. When Joong-shik tells Eun-mo the tragic news of her older sister, he tells her that her older sister died in a hit-and-run accident. Joong-shik and Eun-soo now live together. A few years lat 15-year-old Choi Eun-mo (Seo Woo) falls in love with her teacher Joong-shik (Lee Sun-Gyun), a mysterious new man in the town of Paju. Her feelings for Joong-shik changes when she learns that Joong-shik is dating her older sister Eun-soo (Shim Lee-Yeong). A year later, Joong-shik and Eun-soo are now married, with Eun-mo living with them.
One day, when Joong-shik and Eun-soo are home alone, a sudden gas explosion causes the death of Eun-Soo. When Joong-shik tells Eun-mo the tragic news of her older sister, he tells her that her older sister died in a hit-and-run accident. Joong-shik and Eun-soo now live together.
A few years later, Eun-soo, still caught in a whirlwind of emotions for Joong-shik, suddenly leaves for India.
Upon her return to the town of Paju, Eun-mo discovers her apartment is facing demolition and the apartment tenants turned squatters are fighting desperately against the gangster muscle men leading the demolition. The anti-demolition group is led by Eun-mo's former brother-in-law Joong-shik. During this time, Eun-mo digs further into the death of her older sister and she becomes torn between the truth and her feelings for Joong-shik. ... (more) (less)