[HanCinema's Film Review] "Kongjwi and Patjwi" + Full Movie

Stop motion animation always had an uncanny appeal, with the puppet-like characters and movement functioning like a connection between the past and the present, regarding film technology. Gang Tae-ung implements this artform in order to present an adaptation of the homonymous traditional Korean romance story from the Joseon Dynasty.

Advertisement

Kongjwi, a kind, beautiful girl who is living alone with her father, welcomes a stepmother and a stepsister, Patjwi, in her life. The two of them however, are proven cunning and evil, not to mention quite ugly, from the beginning, with the stepmother cheating her husband into believing they are the exact opposite. Even worse, as soon as he leaves the house for business, the two of them start torturing Kongjwi, with Patjwi lying about her step-sister's behaviour, and her mother punishing violently the poor girl, at least when she is not putting her up for the most back breaking jobs. Kongjwi finds a series of unexpected allies in the various animals of the forest, who are always willing to help her, despite the constantly impossible works her stepmother has her do. Furthermore, Buddha also feels sorry for her torments and her everlasting patience, and helps her, with the assistance of more animals. Lastly, a local youth from a very good family has taken a liking to her, and promises to be with her when he finishes his studies. Alas, the two newcomers in the house are not willing to let her find happiness, and their tricks and conspiracies keep becoming worse, even if their own relationship deteriorates with time.

Gang Tae-ung directs a distinct melodrama, with the protagonist facing worse and worse situations, despite her good nature, with her torturing being one of the main elements of the narrative, occasionally even bordering on exploitation, despite the fact that the stop-motion animation dulls this sense significantly. At the same time, however, the presence of animals on her side, that occasionally even dance and play music to cheer her up, when they are not helping her in practical terms, adds a rather enjoyable and delightful note to the movie, with the presence of the two birds as narrators intensifying this aspect. Furthermore, the fact that the two evil women also get their share of punishment, either from each other or from external powers, adds much to the entertainment the film offers while dulling the melodrama here significantly, with the finale cementing this approach.

Apart from the story, there is another very interesting feminist element here, since the protagonists are all women, who even more, seem to completely dominate the men around them, who appear naive for the most part. The fact that even the mother of the young man who likes Kongjwi dictates his life, also intensifies this element, in a rather interesting approach to the story.

The animation here shows its age, but the movement is quite realistic if somewhat playful particularly in the terms of animals, while the drawing is top notch, especially in the way the villainy and the kindness are portrayed in the face of the protagonists, respectively. Yun Ji-yeong's editing implements a rather fast pace that suits the episodic nature of the narrative, while adding to the entertainment the animation offers. Furthermore, at 72 minutes, the film does not overstay its welcome in any way.

The message the movie presents, of the perseverance of good people prevailing against the cunningness and the cruelty of evil people are somewhat detrimental, when examined through a contemporary prism, but as a whole, "Kongjwi and Patjwi" emerges as a rather appealing, very easy-to-watch spectacle.

Review by Panos Kotzathanasis

___________

"Kongjwi and Patjwi" is directed by Gang Tae-ung. Release date in Korea: 1978/01/23.