[HanCinema's Film Review] "Traces" + Full Movie

Signaling the last, and essentially declining period of Shin Sang-ok in S. Korea, the end of the 60s and beginning of 70s saw him directing a series of films that differed from his past ones, as his effort to both change his style somewhat and abide by the rules of the strict censorship and the intense anti-Japanese sentiments, resulted in titles that were uneven, to say the least. This aspect is also evident in "Traces", which still includes, though, a number of appealing elements.

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The film begins with an impressive gisaeng dance and a scene of separation where a girl, Yeong-soon, is saying goodbye to two young men, Japanese Noguchi and Korean Dong-ho. A bit later, as the men are on the train, the timeline switches to the past, in order to introduce the story from the beginning. Noguchi is a Japanese fine art teacher during the occupation of Korea, who, one day that he was painting by a bridge, saves a man who is being chased by the authorities. A bit later, the man comes to him in order to thank him, and introduces himself as freedom fighter Dong-ho. Furthermore, he acquaints him with the concept of gisaeng and particularly their dances, as exhibited in the face of a girl, Yeong-soon, who practices the traditional court dance in secret as it was forbidden by the authorities. Noguchi falls in love with the girl at first sight, but she cannot return his feelings, even if she wants to, because she hates the Japanese for killing her father. At the same time, his father is also annoyed by his interest to a Korean girl, and even more so by his decision to paint her portrait. Dong-ho on the other hand, also suffers since his father is pro-Japanese, while the enforcement of the authorities for the Korean to change their names to Japanese ones, causes even more anger amidst their lines. Eventually, the two men are drafted to the Second World War, with most of their issues unresolved.

Shin Sang-ok directs a film that is distinctly propagandistic in its anti-Japanese approach, with the Japanese and the Koreans who are pro-Japanese being painted in the blackest colors, at least the ones who do not change completely after witnessing Yeong-soon's dance. The effort of the Korean to retain their traditions while the Occupational Authorities enforce strict Japanisation also moves towards the same path, with the former presented repeatedly as heroes acting against all odds.

Apart from these elements, however, which do become somewhat annoying in their cliched and on the nose presentation, Shin Sang-ok has also included a number of aspects that move towards a completely different direction. The most appealing and visually impressive one is the combination of Joseon traditions with the Japanese-driven modernity, as highlighted in the clothes and the overall demeanor of people. The antithesis and also the evident glorification of tradition work quite nicely here, also because they extend to the romance that initiates between Yeong-soon and Noguchi, which highlights this element in the most entertaining fashion. Furthermore, Yeong-soon's dancing sequences are the most impressive scenes in the movie, with Moon-hee's performance being truly exquisite in that regard. Choi Seung-woo's cinematography also captures all the aforementioned in the most elaborate fashion, either in the calm or the action sequences that appear closer to the ending of the movie, adding yet another crowd-pleasing element to the narrative.

Another, and essentially unavoidable crowd-pleaser comes in the form of the melodramatic notions, which become more and more intense as the movie progresses, finding their apogee in the finale. Lastly, the usual episodic approach of the Korean movies of the time is also here, although O Seong-hwan's editing manages to contain them in just 82 minutes through a rather fast pace that definitely adds to the entertainment the movie offers.

"Traces" has its merits, and there are a number of aspects that are definitely worth seeing, but also demands from its viewer not to be annoyed by the intense propaganda and the plethora of crowd-pleasing elements.

Review by Panos Kotzathanasis

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"Traces" is directed by Shin Sang-ok, and features O Yeong-il, Moon Hee, Lee Dae-yub, Lee Soon-jae, Hwang Hae, Kim Dong-hun. Release date in Korea: 1967/10/11.