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The Golden Age of Korean Film Industry

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    Without any doubt, the most influential masterpiece of the Korean film industry is the film Housemaid, directed by the famous cinema-man Kim Ki-young. This film was firstly featured on the global screens in 1960. It was identified as a suspenseful piece of art that proclaimed Korea as a major player in the international cinematic map. The plot of this film is simple: a family hires a housemaid who ruins their future completely. The housemaid is suffering from a psychological disease. After the master has slept with her, she becomes absolutely uncontrollable and obsessive. By the end of the film, the viewer may easily observe the shift of the dominant role from the landlord and his wife to the maid who controls everything and everybody known from https://123helpme.org/articles/application-essay/.

    In the analysis of the film, it is important to explore the historical background of the contemporary Korea, since it will provide the possibility to estimate the vitality and influence of The Housemaid on the global cinema development. Critics accentuate that The Housemaid is absolutely modern and realistic film that reflects the reality of the times. Moreover, this film thoroughly depicts the perplexing situation of the Korean citizens, especially women. At that time, women could work as prostitutes, housekeepers, or bus driver assistants. Undoubtedly, viewers can study from the film the whole history of that horrible time. The Housemaid depicts the true story of how masters used to exploit their housekeepers. However, in this film, the maid holds all the cards and controls the master and his family. Therefore, it may be described as a big shift of power from the male to female generation. Furthermore, this film preciously analyses the transformation of the gender roles. It casts light upon the brand-new perception of a woman as a leader of the family. On the other hand, it depicts a helpless husband and drastic changes in the social structure of society.

    Undoubtedly, one can identify this film as a domestic horror since it introduces a new sexual predator – femme fatale who spearheads the domestic chores. The Housemaid describes the power of the female generation. It is vivid in the example when the housemaid seduced her master and, eventually, becomes pregnant with his child. Moreover, the composer's wife (muster's wife) convinces the housemaid to induce abortion by falling down a flight of stairs. Moreover, The Housemaid depicts the changes of the female mood and behavior. After a miscarriage, the housemaid behaves more erratic. She even convinces the house owner to commit suicide with the housemaid by swallowing the rat poison. This film clearly shows the domination of the low class over high class, women over men, lie over the truth, mental disturbance over maturity. In addition, this film has the narrative who apparently warns the audience about the complicity of the family issues.

    The Housemaid can be recognized as the best masterpiece of the Golden Age of the Korean film industry since it has hugely influenced the tones and motifs of the future movies. The Korean film industry experienced the flourishing developments after the end of the Korean War. The small local producers were able to make high-quality films. This period of the South Korean film making business was called the “Golden Age” since it saw many impressive melodramas that were based on a variety of historical, political, and artistic events. The South Korean film making movement had many similarities with the Italian, French, and German cinema industry of that time; however, the favorable conditions for the South Korean Golden Age movement experienced positive development after the Park Chung Lee’s dictatorship ended. There was a book written in English that analyzed the amazing pieces of the South Korean film and television developments while touching numerous aspects of the Golden Age productions. One of the distinguishing features of the Golden Age is depiction of the gender difference (struggle for power in the household between the landlord and the housemaid) and class warfare (the rich family and their poor housemaid) that are clearly seen in the film The Housemaid. Furthermore, this film is considered a testament to the consummate luxury and strong weirdness of the South Korean cinema. Therefore, The Housemaid represents the nation's output and rapid social changes.

    When conducting an analysis of the Golden Age from the commercial point of view, it is evident that the 1960s period is marked by a time of exceptional effectiveness in the market. It is known that The Housemaid was created in 1961. Therefore, it may be concluded that this film was the first representative of the rapid development of the Korean film industry. At the same time, the number of people going to the cinema increased considerably since the TV business was not quite developed yet. Even though, the film industry was deeply affected by the political regime of the time, there could be noticed the emersion of new directors who produced some of the best Korean films. The deciding event that led to the huge success of the moviemaking industry was a bunch of protests initiated by the students against the totalitarian government. This event contributed into liberalization of the Korean society on a social and intellectual level due to the younger generation who influenced the mentality of the older generation, as well. Following these protests, the Korean society received freedom of expression; therefore, the film industry went through other pleasant changes while producing more movies. Korean films started being featured all over the world. Therefore, the Korean film industry became more globalized and developed, despite the existing totalitarian regime and economic decrease.

    Moreover, the film is a good representation of the Golden Age due to the fact that it is the first to describe the Westernization of Korea after the war. The director of the film, Kim Ki-young, showed the modern tendencies in the development of Korea where mid-class did not have any conditions for normal survival. Furthermore, in the film, one can observe the “western” life conditions of a common family; this is particularly implicit in the luxurious conditions of the household of the main characters who have a TV set and a piano parole. Mr. Kim is described as an absolutely westernized character who wants to have modern devices and convenient life conditions. He was the richest person in his neighborhood who was the first to get a TV set. Moreover, this family hired a housemaid to make their life easier. Undoubtedly, one can feel the change of dynamics of the film when the housemaid enters the house. This can be explained by the tense communication between the psychic apparatus of human, known as id (the master Mr. Kim) and superego (social observer Ozu Yasuijro's). The director employs various techniques in order to accentuate the attention on the strength of the housemaid and the weakness of the master. This is clear when director Kim turns his camera and peers it around the corner. This helps to add some mysterious tone to the film and make it more dramatic.

    This film casts new light to the Golden Age of the Korean film-making industry; it employs various psychological techniques that have not been seen in the previous generation. A good illustration of this is the application of anti-Freudian Freudianism that was used with the aim to show horrible and dangerous inner household conditions. For example, Kim uses various multifaceted visual symbols and motifs, such as rats in death and poison. Moreover, the director uses cage in order to demonstrate the immobility and craziness of animals. This symbolizes the eternal struggle between upper and middle class. In The Housemaid, the rich family was trapped inside their grotesquely luxurious house.

    Undoubtedly, in Kim Ki-young’s film, the viewer can see the male story from the beginning to end. In this story, the housemaid represents a horrifying demon who feels freedom and domination over the master. In this case, the film may be identified as a strong warning to those who stray from their family and marriage. What is more, The Housemaid belongs to the Golden Age of Korean film industry since it represents the class warfare that has hugely influenced the future generation of the South Korean filmmakers. Additionally, one of the features of the Golden Age is telling the real life story that depicts the ordinary life of people. This characteristic is vivid in The Housemaid; this thrilling and jaw-dropping story demonstrates the absurd situation that can easily disintegrate a family.

    All in all, the film The Housemaid is defined as a commentary on class fight between the mid class (female employee) and the affluent bourgeoisie. Moreover, this film demonstrates how the mid-class empowers upper class. The film aims to demonstrate the vulnerability and imperfection of the world (including Korea) and family institution. Despite these issues, humans should always struggle for the peace in their inner and outside world. Undoubtedly, this film belongs to the Golden Age of the Korean cultural history since it shows the true reality of the family bonds, customs, norms, and traditions on which Korean nation was up-brought.