I’m A Cyborg (But That’s OK) is the latest film by eccentric Korean director, Chan-wook Park, maker of the Revenge Trilogy which included the phenomenally successful Oldboy.
It is the story of ChaYoung-goon, played by Su-jeong Lim, who is convinced she is a cyborg. Predictably, she ends up in a sanitorium where she holds conversations with electrical appliances and refuses food, attempting to recharge herself by licking batteries.
Observing Cha Young-goon is another inmate Park Il-sun (Jung Ji-hoon) an anti-social kleptomaniac who is convinced that he can steal the personality traits of other people. Gradually, the pair fall in love, but Il-sun has to save the weakening Cha Young-goon from her own delusions by convincing her to eat.
Park’s most recent offering may be far more light-hearted than his graphically violent earlier work, but with a host of bizarre characters, dark themes and stunning cinematography, it is far more engaging than your average Hollywood romcom.
Much of the film’s strength lies in the sum of its visual parts and this becomes the main point of interest. Cha Young-goon’s many flights of fancy are a treat to watch, including a sequence in which she marches around the hospital, gunning down hospital staff with machine-gun fingertips and robotic accuracy.
The other characters in the film are equally quirky, including a man who walks backwards and a girl who dresses as a Swiss milkmaid. A kaleidoscopic combination of visual jokes and colourful animation creates an experience that leaves the audience’s senses reeling and other celebrated visionary directors in the west, such as Tim Burton, trailing far behind.
However, beyond that there is little complexity to the film. Its basic plot of ‘boy meets girl’ is simple, if the unusual circumstances aren’t considered and Park avoids exploring any issues in depth. Instead he focuses on the optical elements and the peculiar people who inhabit this insane world. Park overloads slightly when trying to create more on-screen interest with special effects and the kooky traits of the heroes. This serves to make the film look rather messy and unstructured.
When Il-sun finally manages to get Cha Young-goon to eat, the movie should really end there, but Park continues on, trying to tie up the loose ends hurriedly.
Also, the supposed love between the two protagonists seems rather one-sided, as Il-sun, touchingly tries very hard to help Cha Young-goon whilst managing her schizophrenic tendencies. Cha Young-goon seems only vaguely aware of this, focusing instead on her own preoccupations.
Despite its drawbacks, I’m A Cyborg is a cute and unusual romantic story. Although it isn’t a cinematic triumph, it is far more compelling than anything Hollywood has had to offer lately and well worth a viewing.
About this story
This review was written by Ruth Magennis, 19, from Belfast
