Park completes his revenge trilogy (see Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance & Oldboy) with a stunningly original, comedic, and tragic masterpiece that I feel is the strongest of the three! Lee Geum-Ja spends thirteen years in prison for a crime she didn't commit; in prison she seems a model prisoner and is considered an Angel by some and "Witch" by inmates (who know her more intimately). When she is finally released, she proceeds with her elaborate revenge plan to seek out Mr. Baek and bring him to justice for killing the little boy (which was the crime he blackmailed Geum-Ja into confessing too) and seek her own spiritual redemption. The plot goes awry and she discovers more of Mr. Baek's horrific child murders; she brings the children's families and the detective who took her confession (because he was responsible for her conviction and let the true murderer free to commit these other crimes!) and they must decide Baek's fate: turn him over to the authorities or kill him themselves. Mercilessly. And slowly. The film shows the sadness of self-destruction and redemption through revenge and asks us (the viewer) to consider the meaning of Justice. Each victim must weigh heavily the consequences of their actions because purity, once spoiled, can never be regained.Final Grade: (A)
