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2002(6th)

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World Fantastic Cinema

Acts of Violence

Il LIM

USA2008 95 min Digibeta C World Premiere

Synopsis

Acts of Violence is an action movie, but so much attention is given to the story that action takes a back seat. The movie emphasizes protagonist Flyn’s mental torment rather than his revenge against his wife’s rapist. At once a killer and a doctor, Flyn is racked by guilt while simultaneously burning with vengeance. His duality is such that he appears at once victim and aggressor. By alternating brutal depictions of Flyn’s violence with his daily life with his wife Olivia, the film maximizes this dilemma of duality, which is Flyn’s own internal dilemma as well. Its masterstroke is in using this duality as a dramatic twist. The ultimate message is the destructiveness of revenge. An apt subtitle for Acts of Violence would be “Revenge is wrong.” The movie’s subject matter, claw hammer action, and tooth-pulling scene recall Old Boy. In fact, the director and star is Korean LIM Il. Born in Seoul, LIM has studied martial arts since he was three and taught numerous actors at his own martial arts studio in the U.S. That is where he met Hellboy star Ron PERLMAN, who has a prominent role in Acts of Violence. (HUH Nam Woong)

Diretor

Il LIM

Born in Seoul, he started training in the martial arts since age 3. And moved to the US and graduate high school and university. He opened up his own martial art school after graduation, where he taught many people from the film industry. After a few acting roles later he also starred in his directorial debut film Acts of Violence(2008)