Filmmaker, playwright and novelist Lee Chang-dong is one of South Korea’s most celebrated artists as well as one of its harshest critics. Newly restored in 4K, this collection of four of his early works reveals the poetic origins of a cinematic career that is uniquely “marked by a fascination with pain and longing” (IndieWire).

In his directorial debut, GREEN FISH (1997), Lee uses the conventions of film noir to explore the story of a young man who becomes ensnared in a dangerous love triangle with the girlfriend of his employer, a local mob boss. Opening on a shocking scene of implied suicide, Lee’s sophomore feature PEPPERMINT CANDY (1999) proceeds to move backward in time, revealing the unhappiness of its protagonist in reverse chronology. In OASIS (2002), two societal outcasts become unlikely soulmates when an irresponsible ex-con befriends a woman with severe cerebral palsy. Following a matriarch who finds her capacity as a caregiver threatened by Alzheimer’s disease, POETRY (2010) features a Cannes award-winning screenplay by Lee and an achingly vulnernable performance by legendary actress Yun Jung-hee in a role he specifically penned

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Video Quality

Green Fish, Peppermint Candy, and Oasis make their domestic Blu-Ray debut courtesy of Film Movement Classics with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in their original aspect ratios derived from 4K restorations. Poetry was previously released on Blu-Ray in 2011 by Kino Lorber, but that film is also being released from a 4K restoration. Each film is given its own disc so that compression issues are not really an issue. The quality across these four titles is pretty consistently high, yet we feel there may be something off with the Green Fish transfer. While it is the oldest of the four and is more likely to exhibit some signs of age, this Blu-Ray transfer does not feel as fresh or vibrant as the other three.

Even after the supposed restoration, you will notice some blemishes in the opening of Green Fish outside of the train that continue sporadically throughout the set. The quality improves as you get to more recent outings from the filmmaker with dirt and damage overwhelmingly eliminated. The latter three transfers look amazing with natural film grain resolved well. Clarity and detail are impeccable with so much to explore within the frame. The texture present within the costumes and environment is a welcome sight. The colors are natural and deep with hues saturating the screen, especially when it comes to the foliage. Black levels hold up mostly well with very little in the way of crush, and highlights never veer into blooming. This set treats these movies well with some caveats.

Audio Quality

This new Blu-Ray set comes with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track and an LPCM 2.0 stereo track for each film in the original Korean. The exception to this is Green Fish which only has the 2.0 track. Each of these films provide a reserved sonic palette with subtle environmental flourishes that complement the narrative ambitions appropriately. The surround sound track on the latter three films deftly opens up the world when it comes to urban noise, but it is hard to fault the strength of the stereo tracks that delivers a formidable listening experience.

These films deploy music and their score in a narratively enriching manner. Every piece of music is presented with resolute clarity and pleasing fidelity as it comes through the room. Dialogue holds up without a hiccup, coming through crisply and clearly without being overshadowed by the music or sound effects. The environmental effects are delineated nicely without getting muddled in the mix. The track avoids nearly major instances of age-related wear and tear or distortion. The audio experience will not let you down. Optional English subtitles are provided on this release.

Special Features

Green Fish

Audio Commentary: James Marsh & Pierce Conran provide an informative commentary track in which they analyze the film and provide some great background details that lend some insight into how this fits into the career of Lee Chang-Dong.

Lee Chang-Dong Intro: A five-minute intro from the director in which he discusses why he chose to tackle a gangster film in his first outing, how he injected some of his own sensibilities into the narrative, symbolism within the film, the transformation of the city, the qualities of the characters, and more.

Making Of: A hefty 45-minute archival making-of documentary that features many great interviews and looks at the production of the film.

Production Announcement: The original 16-minute press junket for the announcement of the film is provided.

Trailer: The minute-and-a-half-long trailer is provided for Green Fish.

Peppermint Candy

Lee Chang-Dong Intro: A five-minute intro from the director in which he discusses the time in which the film was released, the themes of the picture, his fascination with time, crucial moments in Korea’s modernization era, the journey of the character, and more.

Making Of: A mighty 48-minute archival making-of documentary that features many great interviews and looks at the production of the film.

Auditions: A seven-minute look at auditions for the film.

Outtakes: A seven-minute collection of unused moments from the production of the film

Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided for Peppermint Candy.

Oasis

Lee Chang-Dong Intro: A four-minute intro from the director in which he discusses the challenging nature of the love portrayed, the themes of the picture, deviations from cinematic expectations, and more.

Making Of: A great 34-minute archival making-of documentary that features many great interviews and looks at the production of the film.

Actress Moon So-ri as Han Gong-ju: A nearly seven-minute interview with the actress in which she discusses her character, talking to people with acquired brain injuries, the physicality of the role, the production process, and more.

Actor Sol Kyung-gu as Hong Jong-du: A nearly six-minute interview with the actor who discusses his character, the qualities of his personality, how he differs from the character, the challenging parts of the production, and more.

Composer Lee Jae-jin: A ten-minute interview with the composer in which he discusses the importance of music in the film, working with Lee Chang-Dong, how music differed in the fantasy segments, creating the compositions, and more.

Lee Chang-Dong and Art Director Shin Jum-hee: A nearly 14-minute interview with the director and art director in which they discuss the look of the movie, what the production design says about the characters, the construction of certain spaces, and more.

Oasis Preview Screening: A nearly three-minute look at a preview screening for the film with the cast and creative team in attendance.

Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided for Oasis.

Poetry

Lee Chang-Dong Intro: A nearly six-minute intro from the director in which he discusses the real-life event that inspired the film, his struggle over how to convey the story, the question of morality in our daily lives, and more.

Making Of: A nine-minute archival making-of piece that features great interviews and looks at the production of the film.

Ahn Nae-sang Interview: A nearly three-minute interview with the actor in which he discusses his character, working with Lee Chang-dong, and more.

Trailer: The nearly two-minute trailer is provided for Poetry.

Final Thoughts

The Poetry of Lee Chang-dong offers four films from one of the greatest living Korean filmmakers. His work is guided by a voice that is quite unlike his contemporaries, which allows him to stand apart as a vital part of the cinematic ecosystem. His earliest work shows the artist playing in a sandbox that is somewhat familiar, but there are still plenty of flourishes that hint at what is to come. By the time you reach the end of this set, you have been taken on a journey that will assure you that you are in the hands of a master. Film Movement Classics has reintroduced these films to a new audience with a brand new Blu-Ray that features a primarily strong A/V presentation and an array of valuable supplemental features. This collection deserves a spot in the collection of any cinephile. Recommended

The Poetry of Lee Chang-dong: Four Films is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Film Movement Classics and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.