Sang-soos' new films are invited by the Cannes this year. Usually Korean journalists make all the fuss when a film goes to the festival. Anyway, I want to compare the two Sang-soos' films shortly.
I am not a professional film critic, so I will write this based on my impression.
First of all, Hong's works are very low budget ones. He makes 1-2 films a year. The staff is less then 10! Wonderful productivity!
It looks actors and actresses are not paid at all. Some times, his friends or students seem like appearing on the films.
Style wise, I cannot see any shooting techniques, looks like only one camera is used. And narrative is unconventional: time is not important, it is reconstructed by the director. So, audience cannot follow the story, and some critics laboriously tried to analyze it. Maybe he intentionally tortures critics.Lets talk about the characters, they are such losers mirroring us. They are not hero and heroin. They misunderstand each other, and upset about very small things...
When students, who want to become a director, watch Hong's works, they hold a delusion that they can become a director, because Hong's works look easy. However, they realize they are the losers just like in the movie characters.
Lastly, French critics love him too much. He is recognized as a film master in the world.
For instance, Girls' Night Out, (1998) Tears, (2003), The President's Last Bang (2004), The Old Garden, (2005), The Housemaid, (2010).
Because of the unique, even radical theme, his works arouse the public's interest. That can be a good marketing point, so his works look mostly commercial. Investors like him. He is wise!
Mise-en-scene of his works is wonderful.
Everything is different except the two common things of the two Sang-soos : They have the same name and they are good directors.
I cannot wait for their new films.
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