Director: Chan-wook Park (not the director of Parasite, in case you were wondering)
8/10
This S Korean film presents a complicated story of a three-way con job involving a man posing as a count, an heiress, and a servant. It’s made more complicated by shifts in chronology and perspective. Furthermore , the splendid cinematography, sets, and lighting take your eyes off the subtitles. In those three regards, it’s up there with Barry Lyndon, which also chronicles a con man of sorts. It comes in at just under three hours.
© 2020 Brian M Downing
Brian M Downing is a national security analyst who’s written for outlets across the political spectrum. He studied at Georgetown University and the University of Chicago, and did post-graduate work at Harvard’s Center for International Affairs. Thanks as ever to Susan Ganosellis.