no analogy, only metaphor

Dee 2022-04-23 07:04:00

1. The male protagonist finally strips off the clothes of the real son of "Mama" buried under the tree, puts it on himself, and lies next to "Mama". That is, he knew the ins and outs of everything, and still chose to hold the arm of "mother", and chose to believe that the dress was still related to him. This is the "wake up part of humanity" after redemption.

2. It is easy for some viewers to simply substitute Michelangelo's image of the Virgin and Child into the hero and heroine because of their unfamiliarity with Christian theology and Kim Ki-de's own theological views. In fact, Kim Ki-dok's focus is not on discussing who is the Virgin and who is the Son; what he wants to talk about is the mother-son relationship, or the most fundamental and most sincere emotions in the world. What Michelangelo's statue touched him was not the "sin and redemption" of theological thinking, but "the root of human nature".

3. The final jump of "Mom" is also the redemption she chose by herself. Like the foundation of all narratives in the film, this self-redemption also comes from the most basic human nature. She has love and shame for her son (because she forgave the enemy), hatred, love and compassion for the enemy. So what about herself? I'm afraid that because of these complicated emotions that can't have a way out, only by jumping off can I be freed.

4. Therefore, there is no saint, no Virgin or Son in the whole film, only ordinary human beings who are drowned in emotion and reborn in emotion. Michelangelo's statue of the Virgin and Child is just a metaphor for the emotional theme of the film (mother and child and the general basic emotions by extension), not a theological analogy.

5. If you can't see Kim Ki-deok's strong focus on basic emotions, but only see the ethical and theological framework emphasized by religion, you will naturally only see (construct?) things like incest that are "acceptably difficult". It is very uncomfortable to see mountains that are not mountains and water that is not water.

View more about Pieta reviews

Extended Reading
  • Abagail 2022-03-29 09:01:07

    Really naughty. Even if the truth is revealed too early, it still makes the ending so awesome. He stabbed the audience fiercely, leaving people stunned. It's better to punish people than to punish people. There is no bloody murder scene, but there is bloody heart-piercing cruelty. Such a revenge bunker! The narrative method is very modern and not Kim Ki-duk, but it is still the theme of love and redemption, which still has the flesh and blood of Kim Ki-duk! The acting of the two protagonists is excellent! Excellent good movie!

  • Alex 2022-03-30 09:01:09

    The route of destruction is very similar to "Confession", but the OST is slightly worse.

Pieta quotes

  • Gang-Do: [grabbing between her legs] I came out of here?

    [she nods]

    Gang-Do: Here for sure?

    [she nods again]

    Gang-Do: Really? Then can I go back in?

  • Gang-Do: What is money?

    Mi-Son: Money? The beginning and end of all things. Love, honor, violence, fury, hatred, jealousy, revenge, death.