re:mote voices

Title: Arahan [Arahan jangpung daejakjeon]
Cast: Seung-beom Ryu, So-yi Yoon, Sung-kee Ahn, Doo-hong Jung, Ju-sang Yun
Director: Seung-wan Ryoo

Arahan starts with a meeting between a guy and girl. He is a bumbling police officer, she is a shop assistant. They both try and stop a bag snatcher. But while the police officer is entirely ineffectual, it is clear that the girl has special abilities. She is able to launch "palm blasts", the force of Chi harnessed through Tao teachings. Tired of his failure, the police officer tries to get the girl, and her father - one of the Seven Masters to teach him.

The Seven Masters, or at least the five who are still about, are impressed with the officer's chi potential, but dismayed by his utter inability. Still they endeavour to teach him, while trying to promote Tao as much as they can in this changed world. However, one of the Seven was corrupted and turned to the dark side of the Tao, after a struggle he was contained. But now he is back and he wants the key to heaven, with which he will ascend to the level of Arahan.

The role of the bumbling police officer is filled by Seung-beom Ryu, who appeared in the Chan-wook Park's hit Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, as well as the anticipated Sympathy For Lady Vengeance. Sung-kee Ahn was in Nowhere To Hide and Musa the Warrior, while Doo-hong Jung was in Natural City, The Resurection of the Little Match Stick Girl, Public Enemy and Ji-woon Kim's Foul King.

Arahan is an action comedy, something along the lines of Kung-Fu Hustle. Though while Kung-Fu Hustle was given decent distribution in British cinemas, Arahan only featured in the likes of the Edinburgh Film Festival before appearing on DVD. Though perhaps this is not surprising as Arhan is determinedly downbeat, tentatively challenging boundaries for effect. But on the whole it is more straightforward and restrained than the competition. Regardless, Arahan is a decent enough film.