The words boomerang
and family to some may be terms that have no relation whatsoever. However Song
Hae-seong’s Boomerang Family defines the colloquialism in an approach that is
relatable to all. It is often said that no matter what we will return to our
families - from cradle to grave we’re bound by binds of blood, intimacy and
inherent nature. This is the setting of Song Hae-seong’s familiar plot. The
insight to this Korean family; made up of siblings who constantly quarrel and a
mother who harbours a million and one secrets is not so unfamiliar that they
could even be Australian, Arabic or even Azerbaijani! But it’s the Korean character’s
nuances that make this film differ from recognizable cinematic narratives.
Take for example the
brains of the family, our lead man, movie director Oh In-mo played by Park Hae-il who
was the golden child of the miserable 202 (their apartment number) family come
home as a sort of prodigal son because his directorial debut movie flopped. As
the lead man you’re constantly questioning why he “boomerang-ed” back. Was it
his mother’s chicken juk? Or was it that his life had become so complacent he
was drawn back to good ‘ol family drama? As a character I never understood his
motives – the other two siblings seem to be more active in this family
situation -in both physical and emotional investment. Perhaps director Song
wanted to highlight that not all golden children fulfill filial duties nor do
they contribute anything substantial to the family. Furthermore perhaps their
family’s over caring is the foundation of their impending failure.
The other two
siblings: Han-mo (Yoon Je-moon) and yeodongsaeng Mi-Yeon (Kong Hyo-jin) negate
the resentment I held for their brother. They sustain the film. Essentially
director Song presents two stereotypes: the gangster hyeong and the somewhat
lovewreck/promiscuous little sister. However the acting of these two parts quashes
every expectation and precedent. Yoon Je-moon is at times sensitive and
endearing as the misunderstood oldest child of the Oh family. The start of the
film shows him still living with Mother not out of dependence but out of
sincere love and gratitude – and his repeated saviour brother moments with
In-mo really yank at the heart of someone who has always wanted older brother.
The comedy he garners in almost every scene keeps the film at its light-hearted
best.
Mi-Yeon boomerangs
back to the family at the end of another doomed marriage; with her is her only
child Min-kyeong (Jin Ji-hee). A place she sees to recuperate and at the same
time palm off her maternal duties to her own mother. The breadwinner of the
family, her financial standing is much better than her mother and her two older
brothers although her source of income is only revealed to us at the end. She is
perhaps the most “normal” one in the family. What is interesting about her is
her standing in the family - in my favourite scene of the film she makes it a
point that she is the one who contributes the most financially. In-mo is
displeased by this and publically embarrasses her at a restaurant causing the
two to have a heated and loud argument which prompts the other restaurant-goers
telling them to shut up. Too much soju mixed with emotional family scars leads
to the whole family engaging in a brawl with the restaurant-goers. The scene is
quite eloquent and is a sad reminder that at the end of it all – family is all
we have.
Amidst it is their
mother (Yoon Yeo-jeong). A harbourer of a million and one secrets; she’s your
typical Korean mother – she cooks yachae soondubu (silky tofu stew), gives you
money to go to the jjimjilbang (public bathhouse) and does whatever she can to
support the family she loves and cherishes. She is a noteworthy highlight of the
whole film and I would get a little teary-eyed after a scene of hers. Her calm
nature and her altruistic deeds for her children are believable and far removed
from the caricature you were expecting. There is a certain warmth she brought
to the screen every time the shot focused on her which makes her the most
memorable character of Boomerang Family. A character you’ll find yourself
constantly empathising with.
Just when you thought
your family was normal – there is Boomerang Family and it’s at the end of the
film that we realise what Mother Oh said is actually true. “Live, eat, sleep
under the one roof, cry and laugh together…that’s what a family is”. Director
Song has truly captured this basic principle and we leave the film with a
humbling realization that although family dynamics change little, food brings a
family together … especially samgyupsal (Korean grilled pork belly) … well a dysfunctional Korean family in this case!
By Genesis Mansilongan
No comments:
Post a Comment