[HanCinema's Film Review] "My Sister is a Hussy" + Full Movie

Considering the fact that the female demographic was quite significant among cinema goers during the 60s, it is no surprise that a number of films of this era feature female protagonists. The hilariously titled "My Sister Is a Hussy" (aka "My Sister is a Tomboy") is a bit strange regarding the messages it communicates, since it does not become clear if it is for women independence or against it. For certain though, the movie is quite entertaining.

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Seon-hee and Soon-ae are two beautiful sisters, who are anything but victims of their sex however, as their father, Dal-soo has trained them in judo since they were little. Seon-hee has somewhat left the judo behind and has become a "proper" lady, but the same does not apply to Soon-ae, who is a real tomboy who frequently gets into fights against men, as in the introductory scene where two guys realize rather brutally that they chose to mess with the wrong girls. Dal-soo is particularly worried about his daughter's attitude, mostly because she has found no one to marry her, also delaying her sister's turn, who is dating a mannequin manufacturer. Eventually, he convinces her to meet with a number of suitors, all of which however, end up ridiculed, mocked, and in the worse case, beaten.

A friend of her sister's beau, however, Na Joo-oh, is interested in her, and after a discussion between the other couple, Seon-hee convinces her sister for the four of them to go to an excursion in the mountains, where Joo-oh manages to "win" against Soon-ae, meaning forcing her into a kiss and essentially, to acknowledge her feelings for him. A double marriage soon commences, but Soon-ae is not exactly willing to be an obedient, traditional wife, and violence soon commences. Dal-soo eventually is forced to give a rather harsh lesson to his daughter about using judo against her husband, and a beaten up Soon-ae realizes the wrong in her ways. Alas, life forces her into violence once more.

Han Hyeong-mo directs a movie that moves into two, entertainment-focused axes. The first one involves martial arts, and particularly Soon-ae's fights with various men, including her husband and her father, which are truly hilarious to watch, even if the faulty editing makes it quite obvious that it is not Moon Jung-suk who is performing all these judo moves. The hyperbole in the how these attackers end up also move into the same direction, while closer to the finale, these fights get a more dramatic essence, since the two sisters and Joo-oh have to fight against people who truly mean them harm. The comments regarding if a woman should be submissive to her husband are a bit mixed here, something that does not apply, though, to the father-daughter relationship, with Han showing clearly who is the one to be obeyed in this case. That this is, essentially, the only scene where Soon-ae finds herself facing someone stronger, speaks volumes in that regard.

The second axis also involves comedy, but is more romance oriented, with the relationships of the two sisters, and the fact that the two husbands are friends and drinking buddies resulting into a number of hilarious misunderstandings and situations. The one where Seon-hee sees her beau with a mannequin and thinks he is with another woman, and him going to her house carrying one to reveal the truth is a testament to this approach. However, the funniest sequence is the one with the suitors, with Han Heyong-mo making a comment about different archetypes of men, through intense mocking. The "cultured westerner", the "artist" both get laughed at by Soon-ae for her ways, but is the "lying businessman" who has the nerve to suggest he is a martial arts practitioner that gets the real punishment here.

Technically, the film is on a very high level, action scenes editing withstanding. Lee Seong-hwi's cinematography captures the action and the humorous/romantic scenes with the same artistry, while the exterior scenes are impressive on occasion, for example the kiss under the small waterfall. Han Hyeong-mo's editing induces the movie with a very fitting fast pace, that suits its episodic nature nicely.

Probably the best aspect of the movie, however, is the acting, with the whole of the cast giving very memorable performances. Moon Jung-suk is exquisite in the titular role, presenting a kind of violent woman we very rarely see on films of the time, while the time she appears vulnerable and "losing" are impressively presented, also in their antithesis with her overall demeanor. Kim Jin-kyu as Joo-oh is equally convincing in his drunkenness, resolve, and occasional victimization, while his chemistry with Moon is one of the best traits of the movie. Kim Seung-ho-I as the father gives a more measured than usual performance, which definitely adds to his acting, as both a loving and strict patriarch.

"My Sister Is a Hussy" does not do much in terms of context and social commentary, but it is original, funny, and in general, extremely entertaining

Review by Panos Kotzathanasis

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"My Sister Is a Hussy" is directed by Han Hyeong-mo, and features Moon Jung-suk, Kim Jin-kyu, Um Aing-ran, Lee Dae-yub, Kim Seung-ho-I, Choi Nam-hyun. Release date in Korea: 1961/10/27.