By Rosario Brenda Gonzalez
Poetry is a 2010 movie by Lee Chang-dong, a former South Korean Minister of Culture and novelist whose 6 films in 21 years are all considered gems of cinema. Poetry, Lee’s fifth film tackles issues of guilt and justice, time and memory, and art and life. It is slow-paced yet exuberant; quiet but full of overwhelming insights to normal everyday occurrences. There are no violent confrontations or melodramatic scenes of love lost or love regained. What it offers is the timeless clash of right and wrong in a society steeped in patriarchal values and self-interest.
The lead character Mi-ja, is a 66-year-old grandmother and part-time caregiver to a half-paralyzed elderly man who suffered from a stroke. She takes care of her teenage grandson, Wook, while her divorced daughter is working in Busan. Mi-ja is also a recipient of government subsidy and apparently does not get any financial assistance from her daughter. Still, she considers herself close to her while at the same time doting on her grandson, who unfortunately is anything but likeable. He mostly stays in his room, plays loud music on the radio, or is engrossed with his computer. He doesn’t help with household chores, and worse, he leaves his garbage and personal things scattered around the house.
While tending to the daily grind, Mi-ja enrolled in a community poetry class. She was inspired by what her teacher told her when she was in third grade: that one day she would be a poet.
Her Poetry teacher only requires them to write one poem after one month. As a conscientious student, Mi-ja follows her teacher’s suggestions, including looking closely at an apple. Poetry, the teacher notes, is seeing, listening, and understanding anything, such as an apple. She also writes down her feelings and observations while doing ordinary things like resting under a tree or looking at flowers. The more she is immersed with words, the more she seems to lose grasp of words, as she is also experiencing the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Since she is responsible for another human being in her care, she must be fully alive and in the present. Yet memory is failing her; without her comprehending what she believes is just a small matter.
Living Through Poetry and Tragedy
No one knows this aspect of Mi-ja’s life except her doctor. She also tried to brush aside her ailment by telling her doctor that everything seemed fine with herself. This is just the beginning, her doctor reasoned out, implying that later on she will feel the full impact of her illness. This may seem like the only conflict in Mi-ja’s life until we learn of the horrifying act done by her grandson, along with five other classmates. The more dreadful behavior is exhibited by the fathers of Wook’s five classmates, after all, they are adults who are supposed to set a good example for their children.
While a grave offense has been committed, people are bound to look the other way if it involves their children, their reputation, or their social standing. In this case, fathers will take the side of their sons, believing that not to do so would ruin their future.
Institutions such as the school and the police also prefer to contain or cover up a crime for the sake of self-preservation. Those left to fight for justice, if without financial and material resources, will accept what comes their way, even if their hearts and minds are in constant revolt.
How Mi-ja would deal with this family tragedy shows cracks in dominant modes of thinking. She faces the most guilt over something that she has no direct influence. The people responsible for rendering justice, unfortunately, have no qualms denying justice. Mi-ja would be the exception to the rule, the non-conformist to tradition.
The Essence of Poetry
At the heart of Poetry is the one denied of justice. It is the story of a woman’s journey to honor the memory of a person who lived through hell. She, whose face, name, and entire being were never considered by those who ruled within traditionally male-oriented families and institutions. It is the face that we will eventually see at the end of the film.
Poetry is Mi-ja’s guilt and redemption. It is also her memory of past events coming together to define her present. And as she wrote her first poem, a requirement in her class, she came to terms with her guilt, her conviction, and her choice. Poetry mirrors her life, making her understand what it really means.
Lee Chang-dong’s skillful direction not only created a uniquely interesting story but also exceptional acting. Yoon Jeong-hee as Mi-ja is ordinary, cool, and exquisite with her printed blouses and white hats. Despite partly living on welfare, Mi-ja is a consistently creative individual without even trying. She was always asking when poetic inspiration would come, not being conscious that she was living and breathing art and creativity.
The villains in the story do not act as such. There are no stereotypes and caricatures in this award-winning film. They are just normal fathers wanting the best for their sons. They drink and talk together. But we know that they are courteous, as dictated by societal norms. We also realize that they will not act fairly, when their self-interests are at stake, because that is what is expected of them. Lee Chang-dong’s character actors do not seem to be acting, and we, the audience, are content to be right there in their midst.
The movie’s ending is ambiguous but points to a plausible outcome. Poetry is a movie that will be with you for a long time as you ponder what became of its lead character. The length of time necessary to come to a conclusion is immaterial. Similar to Poetry, every moment of that thinking process is a joy to savor. And when you reach your answer to your question on Poetry’s ending, you will be grateful that time and memory are on your side. #
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Rosario Brenda Gonzalez is a long-time development worker who discovered South Korean films and television series during the pandemic. She was encouraged to review 18 South Korean movies, 2 South Korean television series, and 1 Japanese television series upon realizing that many of these tackled social issues in an informative and entertaining manner.
A BA Journalism graduate of UP Diliman, Ms. Gonzalez has been a project evaluator and development management trainer for more than three decades. Prior to that, she was a human rights and church worker.
