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Jeon Sung-hwan, Yeo-reum Han, Seo Ji-seok, Jeon Guk-hwan, Kim Il-tae ... see more see more... , Jang Dae-seong , Jo Suk-hyeon , Gong Yu-suk , So Jae-ik , Shin Taek-gi , Kim Myeong-hun , Lee Jong-Gil , Kim Ye-gi , Pyo Sang-woo , Gang Eun-gyu

A crusty old man and his teenage bride-to-be find their secluded life at sea turned upside down with the arrival of a mysterious teenage boy in The Isle director Kim Ki-duk's quiet and contemplative d... read more read more...rama. They've been together for ten years, and as the girl's seventeenth birthday draws near so does the union of this unlikely May-December couple. Aside from his young companion, the thing in life that the old man holds dearest to his heart is his bow. Not only is the bow an effective means of warding off would-be suitors who would seek to spirit away his young shipmate, but a shamanistic fortune-telling device and a musical instrument capable of producing enchanting melodies as well. After drifting on the ocean waves together for an entire decade, this couple suddenly finds the waters becoming treacherous not by the wrath of mother nature, but the introduction of a teenage boy whose presence quickly upsets the pending wedding plans. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

78% liked it

5,032 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

6 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: Ki-duk Kim

Release Date: June 1, 2007

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DVD Release Date: June 26, 2007

Stats: 276 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (276)

  • kiriyamakazou
    December 28, 2007
    kiriyamakazou
    Another piece of sublime Ki-Duk. Here he takes many of his previous themes (a strange and complex relationship) and joins it with his recurring motifs such as the surrounding environment being entirely water. This keeps are characters shut off and pure. The lack of dialogue is of... read more course present (or not) as is the mistreatment of animals as symbolism. Ki-Duk has perfected his craft and the strangest thing here is despite the obvious darkness to the plot the film is very tame. Again it is the subtleties and slow unveiling of events that really help enhance the beauty of the film, even if it has been done better before.
  • KLFilmmaker
    January 29, 2008
    KLFilmmaker
    Strange and moody character study about a old man and girl on a boat. Nothing much happens, but it's still weirdly intriguing. Not the best work from Ki-duk Kim.
  • pfratianni
    May 7, 2009
    pfratianni
    Usually I go out of my way to write a review because a film was particularly good. The bow inspired me for opposite reasons.

    What is sad about this film is it had potential to be a 4 out of 5 star film. With a strong start, other than the obvious fake music mimicry, it eventuall... read morey trailed off into weirdness that made no valid sense at all.

    ***WARNING SPOILIER*** So this young teenage girl is about to be married to a fisherman who has taken care of her for 10 years though her parents are still out there looking for her. She finally comes to her senses when her attractions turn towards a man closer to her own age.

    She fends off the fisherman's jealously, violence, control, and extreme manipulation. When she just about to finally leave him for good the old fisherman pulls one more major manipulative stunt which guilt?s her into marrying him. Instead of consummating their marriage physically he commits suicide which might in some way seem a nobler alternative. But his spirit ends up having sex with her while she is in a sleep like trance breaking her hymen with an arrow that falls from the sky he shot before his death.

    In the final scene she sails away with her previous crush waving in some over the top maudlin sentiment as their fishing boat sinks to the bottom of the sea.

    Just writing it down makes me realize even more just how dumb this movie really was. I mean was the writer 16 when he wrote this or did he just get so bored he decided to kill his own story with absurdity. He's got potential but has got some maturing to do to say the least.
  • anutjami
    September 21, 2007
    anutjami
    This is the second film I've seen by director, Ki-duk Kim. Both films, the other being Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring, are beautiful to watch and have wonderful stories.

View All Hwal (The Bow) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Derek Elley
March 28, 2006
Derek Elley, Variety

An elegiac portrait of elemental love complicated by the outside world. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
September 27, 2007
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Brushes close to offensive material, but it has an unexpected sweetness and skill that keeps it from toppling over the edge. Full Review

Don Willmott
July 19, 2007
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com

How does the guy come up with this stuff? Full Review

Jean-François Vandeuren
February 26, 2007
Jean-François Vandeuren, Panorama

Une oeuvre de synthèse consacrant les derniers efforts de Kim Ki-duk comme certains des plus importants du cinéma sud-coréen des années 2000. Full Review

Walter Chaw
June 22, 2006
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

A minor work from a major talent. Full Review

Derek Smith
March 28, 2006
Derek Smith, Cinematic Reflections

A painful experience that no amount of eye candy can make up for. Full Review

April 1, 2006
Hollywood Reporter

No review available.

John Thomason
June 28, 2007
John Thomason, Orlando Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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