Pietà (2012)

Pietà (2012)

Dir. Kim Ki-duk

I can’t recall the last time I felt such vehement hatred for a main character as I did for Gang-Do (Jung-Jin Lee). He's a deplorable, detestable shit-bag money collector for a loan shark.

The realism that South Korean Dir. Kim Ki-duk strives for makes the actions that Gang-Do takes all the more affecting. If his attitude wasn't already in stark enough relief, when a woman (Min-soo Jo) approaches him and claims to be his mother it becomes even clearer.

The film explores many things, among them whether or not being judged or having someone around to make proud will cause us to act differently (essentially nature Vs nurture).

It's an intense journey that will no doubt shock and offend many who watch it, repeatedly, so be warned. Both leads rise to the challenge of their role superbly and deserve the maximum praise that I can give.