Archive

World Fantastic Cinema

Mago

KANG Hyun-il

Korea2001 80min 35mm color

Synopsis

Opening with a scene of a frog trampled on by a tank, Mago is about the relationship between man and nature. The main character Hanung is the embodiment of the ancient Hanung, who fell in love with Mago, one of the 12 fairies of Nature who allowed, and let man and nature live in harmony. The scene where the tank tramples the frog symbolizes man's destruction of nature. In the process, Mago, suffers extremely and is destroyed. Hanung's embodiment, learns of this through another fairy and falls into despair and grief. The fairies set off to get revenge on the mankind. The idea of < Mago > is creative since it melted in the theme of a relationship between Nature and humans in a mythological structure. And we can see the intent to portray this theme within the edited clips and the image shorts, but in the end, it is merely a line-up of happenings. Also the overuse of soundtracks leaves much to be desired; rather than corresponding to the audience's feelings, it makes them suffer from indigestion. (LIM Jisoo)

Diretor

KANG Hyun-il

Turning 48 this year, he graduated Seoul Arts College. He began working in 1980 making documentaries, educational films, and public information films. His films include < Korea's National Treasures > and < Baby Exercise with Mama >.