태 (Life Line). 1986. South Korea. Directed by Hah Myung-joong. With Lee Hye-sook, Ma Hung-sik, Chae Hui-a. In Korean; English subtitles. 105 min.
Based on Cheon Seung-se’s novella Nakwoldo, this is director Hah Myung-joong’s third feature. Set on the isolated Nakwol Island, the film follows villagers whose lives are controlled by three landlords who monopolize the island’s economy—until the community rises in revolt.
Conceived as an allegory of the Korean Peninsula, the islanders represent the Korean people, while the three ship owners stand in for the military dictatorship of the time. Completed in 1986, at the height of authoritarian rule, the film briefly passed censorship, prompting Hah to flee to Europe with the reels. After new censors took over, it was branded anti-government, blocked from release, and shelved, before being rediscovered and restored in 4K by the Korean Film Archive in 2023.
Shot entirely on location in Jeolla Province, the film features striking cinematography by Jeong Il-seong and a powerful performance by shaman Chae Hui-a, drawing on her own spiritual practice. With a largely nonprofessional cast, the film achieves an intensity close to documentary realism. Selected by director Park Chan-wook.